JACOB "Baby Jake" Matlala does not have money and he is in dire need of financial assistance to pay his immense medical bills.
The ailing former four-time world champion in two different weight divisions confirmed this yesterday when he responded to a question about a weekend report that quoted him as saying he was financially sound.
The report quoted Matlala as saying:
"I know the experience of dying. The stress I was subjected to due to my ill health plus false reports that I was broke intensified my plight, making me believe my life was finished.
"I was brutally kicked again by merciless, sensationalist reporters while I was down and almost out for the count and felt like I had reached the end."
That comment suggested that diners, who had already bought tables to be part of the Night of The Little Big Man tournament, a tribute to Matlala at Emperors Palace on January 27, might as well demand their money back.
But the likeable pocket-sized Sowetan, who turns 50 on Saturday, yesterday said:
"I first want to thank you for the support to the Matlala family. You don't have to worry about that story because you will suffer from stress.
"You tell people simple things and they put spices. It is not the first time. My wife (Mapule) and I don't worry about him (writer) because he has always misquoted me."
Asked to confirm or deny his financial situation Matlala said:
"I don't have money. The money I will get from Golden Gloves will help pay my medical bills."
Promoters Rodney Berman and Jeff Ellis, Emperors Palace and SuperSport will jointly present a box-and-dine tournament at Emperors Palace on January 27 to raise funds for Matlala.
Their good gesture came just after the national outcry to help the boxing national hero.
Ellis announced that lots of sports memorabilia, including Matlala's IBA and Old Buck Belt, which was presented to him for winning the the WBO strap from Paul Weir on November 18 1995, would be auctioned in order to raise "good money".
I thought I was finished
JACOB "Baby Jake" Matlala does not have money and he is in dire need of financial assistance to pay his immense medical bills.
The ailing former four-time world champion in two different weight divisions confirmed this yesterday when he responded to a question about a weekend report that quoted him as saying he was financially sound.
The report quoted Matlala as saying:
"I know the experience of dying. The stress I was subjected to due to my ill health plus false reports that I was broke intensified my plight, making me believe my life was finished.
"I was brutally kicked again by merciless, sensationalist reporters while I was down and almost out for the count and felt like I had reached the end."
That comment suggested that diners, who had already bought tables to be part of the Night of The Little Big Man tournament, a tribute to Matlala at Emperors Palace on January 27, might as well demand their money back.
But the likeable pocket-sized Sowetan, who turns 50 on Saturday, yesterday said:
"I first want to thank you for the support to the Matlala family. You don't have to worry about that story because you will suffer from stress.
"You tell people simple things and they put spices. It is not the first time. My wife (Mapule) and I don't worry about him (writer) because he has always misquoted me."
Asked to confirm or deny his financial situation Matlala said:
"I don't have money. The money I will get from Golden Gloves will help pay my medical bills."
Promoters Rodney Berman and Jeff Ellis, Emperors Palace and SuperSport will jointly present a box-and-dine tournament at Emperors Palace on January 27 to raise funds for Matlala.
Their good gesture came just after the national outcry to help the boxing national hero.
Ellis announced that lots of sports memorabilia, including Matlala's IBA and Old Buck Belt, which was presented to him for winning the the WBO strap from Paul Weir on November 18 1995, would be auctioned in order to raise "good money".
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