BOXING promoters Rodney Berman and Jeff Ellis, altruists of note, are at it again.
This time they are raising funds for the sick and penniless Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala.
Berman and Ellis have staged many tournaments to raise funds for the needy. On January 27 they will present a box-and-dine, black tie affair with tuxedos and gowns at Emperors Palace.
Its a tribute to Matlala titled "Night of a Little Big Man". SuperSport will televise all fights free.
Berman, Ellis, SuperSport and Emperors Palace will jointly present the tournament at the Centre Court.
"We want to raise good money for Jake," said Ellis, who said prices for tables range from R5000 to R10000.
"There will be lots of sports memorabilia on auction."
IBO junior flyweight kingpin Hekkie "Hexecutioner" Budler, 22, will top the bill in the bid for his second defence against Gideon "Hardcore" Buthelezi.
Buthelezi, 24, will be looking at adding the second title to his cabinet. He currently holds the IBO mini flyweight strap.
Boxing SA's prospect of 2009, Florante "Demolition Man" Simba, who has endeared himself to fight fans at Emperors Palace where he has fought all eight of his fights, will also be in action against an opponent still to be confirmed.
Matlala, 48, the former WBO and IBA junior flyweight, WBO and WBU flyweight titlist, was confirmed by Rhema Church to be suffering from double pneumonia. He has been in and out of several hospitals. He is reportedly recuperating at his home in Winchester.
Matlala's 30-year boxing career ended in 1991 with 54 wins (27 stoppages), 12 losses and 2 draws.
In 2005 he joined promoter Branco Milenkovic as co- director. They severed ties last year after Matlala alleged that he had discovered they had not been partners in the first place.
l Meanwhile Boxing SA is aware that Jan "Kid Gavilan" Bergman fought in Namibia where he stopped Gottlieb Shileka in three rounds of their super middleweight bout two weeks ago.
BSA CEO Loyiso Mtya said Bergman, 40, who last saw action on March 3 2007, was sanctioned by the national governing body.
"We sent him to Peter Chadderton, who examines our boxers, and Jan passed all the medical tests. So we sanctioned him," Mtya said.
Fundraiser for 'little big man'
BOXING promoters Rodney Berman and Jeff Ellis, altruists of note, are at it again.
This time they are raising funds for the sick and penniless Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala.
Berman and Ellis have staged many tournaments to raise funds for the needy. On January 27 they will present a box-and-dine, black tie affair with tuxedos and gowns at Emperors Palace.
Its a tribute to Matlala titled "Night of a Little Big Man". SuperSport will televise all fights free.
Berman, Ellis, SuperSport and Emperors Palace will jointly present the tournament at the Centre Court.
"We want to raise good money for Jake," said Ellis, who said prices for tables range from R5000 to R10000.
"There will be lots of sports memorabilia on auction."
IBO junior flyweight kingpin Hekkie "Hexecutioner" Budler, 22, will top the bill in the bid for his second defence against Gideon "Hardcore" Buthelezi.
Buthelezi, 24, will be looking at adding the second title to his cabinet. He currently holds the IBO mini flyweight strap.
Boxing SA's prospect of 2009, Florante "Demolition Man" Simba, who has endeared himself to fight fans at Emperors Palace where he has fought all eight of his fights, will also be in action against an opponent still to be confirmed.
Matlala, 48, the former WBO and IBA junior flyweight, WBO and WBU flyweight titlist, was confirmed by Rhema Church to be suffering from double pneumonia. He has been in and out of several hospitals. He is reportedly recuperating at his home in Winchester.
Matlala's 30-year boxing career ended in 1991 with 54 wins (27 stoppages), 12 losses and 2 draws.
In 2005 he joined promoter Branco Milenkovic as co- director. They severed ties last year after Matlala alleged that he had discovered they had not been partners in the first place.
l Meanwhile Boxing SA is aware that Jan "Kid Gavilan" Bergman fought in Namibia where he stopped Gottlieb Shileka in three rounds of their super middleweight bout two weeks ago.
BSA CEO Loyiso Mtya said Bergman, 40, who last saw action on March 3 2007, was sanctioned by the national governing body.
"We sent him to Peter Chadderton, who examines our boxers, and Jan passed all the medical tests. So we sanctioned him," Mtya said.
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