Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala (1 August 1962 – 7 December 2013) was a South African professional boxer and four-time world champion who competed from 1980 to 2002. Standing about 4 ft 10 in (147 cm), he is the shortest boxer in history to win a world title. He was a world champion in two weight classes: having held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight title from 1993 to 1995 and the WBO light-flyweight from 1995 to 1997. He scored high-profile wins against international opponents during the 1990s. He was a hugely popular national figure in South Africa — admired for his fighting spirit and charitable work — and was publicly counted among Nelson Mandela’s favourite sportspeople. In 2004, Matlala was voted #72 in the "100 Greatest South Africans" poll organized by SABC.
Jacob Matlala was born on 1 August 1962 in Meadowlands, Soweto, Johannesburg. He was an only child; his father worked as a driver and mother as a cook. His father introduced Jacob to boxing, taking him to the gym when we was ten years old. His father had previously boxed recreationally, which helped Matlala become familiar with the sport at a young age.
Matlala described his upbringing as ordinary and said his parents taught him to remain focused. He attended school in Soweto and helped with household chores when he returned home. Although his father encouraged his interest in boxing; his mother was initially concerned over the fact that he could be injured or killed in the ring. Matlala later attended University of Witwatersrand before completing a bachelor’s degree in commerce through the University of South Africa (UNISA).
Matlala began boxing at the age of ten, accompanying his father, an aspiring boxer, to the gym. He developed into a successful amateur boxer, reportedly winning 198 of his 199 amateur bouts. He spent approximately 18 years competing as an amateur before turning professional in 1980. His amateur coach, Theo Mthembu, continued to train him after he entered the professional ranks.
Matlala would make his professional debut on 2 February 1980 against Fraser Plaatjies in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, winning on points over four rounds. His debut took place before he had officially been granted a professional boxing license by the national boxing commission. He begun his professional career under the guidance of his trainer Theo Mthembu, who had also coached him as an amateur.
Jacob Matlala died on 7 December 2013, at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
At a height of 1.47 meters, or 4-foot-10, Matlala was the shortest boxing world champion ever. With a total of 68 fights (53 wins and 2 draws), he ended his career with 4 world championships. He presented his WBU belt to Nelson Mandela after his fight to Juan Herrera.
List of flyweight boxing champions
List of light-flyweight boxing champions
Jacob Matlala at BoxRec (registration required)