On 15 May 1993, Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala, won the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) world champion title. Matlala had been introduced to boxing at a young age by his father, and turned professional in 1979. Under the guidance of Theo Mthembu, Matlala won his first professional victory against Fraser Plaatjie in Port Elizabeth in 1980. Matlala then went on to become the South African Flyweight Champion, and later won the International Boxing Association (IBA) Flyweight title in 1997. Matlala was preceded by Pat Clinton in the Flyweight WBO world champion title, and later succeeded by Alberto Jimenez, who later defeated him in the 10th round at Hammanskraal.
eventREF E-0013093Revised
15 May 1993
Jacob Matlala, SA flyweight, wins the World Boxing Organisation world champion title
- Updated
- 15 May 2020
How we know this
- 01South Africa's boxing champs [online], available at: southafrica.info [Accessed 5 May 2009]
Last updated · 15 May 2020
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Jacob Matlala, SA flyweight, wins the World Boxing Organisation world champion title. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013093
South African History Online (2011) 'Jacob Matlala, SA flyweight, wins the World Boxing Organisation world champion title', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013093 (Accessed: 13 October 2026).
South African History Online, Jacob Matlala, SA flyweight, wins the World Boxing Organisation world champion title [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013093, (accessed 13 October 2026).
"Jacob Matlala, SA flyweight, wins the World Boxing Organisation world champion title." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013093. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "Jacob Matlala, SA flyweight, wins the World Boxing Organisation world champion title." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013093.
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