WHEN someone dies, people grieve about more than the simple loss of a beloved one.
They grieve for themselves, for the family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances.
People also grieve for the lives the deceased touched and for those they would have touched.
In the case of Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala - an erudite and principled man of the people, sportsman extraordinaire, family man and a friend in the true sense of the word - the grief is boxing's.
By all accounts, Matlala came from a simple family. He dedicated his life and boundless energy to the fistic sport in Meadowlands Zone 6 in Soweto.
He devoted all his world-class talent, time and resources to the cause of boxing - a sport he served with aplomb for 23 years.
The pocket-sized fighter was trained by Solly Hlatsh- wayo and Steve Masike. Matlala was a gem, a fully rounded boxing man, who was affable and intelligent with a sharp sense of humour.
As the doyen of his beloved Dube Boyz Club, Matlala was an indispensable part of the boxing intelligentsia in this country.
He was a good-natured, non-violent, home-loving individual. He had powerful opinions on boxing commissions, the superficiality of ring officials and crass incompetence.
Matlala was a likeable little big man with the heart of a lion inside the ring.
He became the first South African boxer to win the International Boxing Association title - a feat he achieved after dethroning legendary American Michael Cabajal - a five-time world boxing champion.
As all people do, Matlala has passed away. No more sparring sessions, no bags, no pads, no gloving...
Boxing and sport in general will be poorer without his bulky presence.
His comrade in arms, promoter Rodney Berman, former stable mate Takalani Ndlovu, Boxing SA's acting chief Loyiso Mtya, former SA champion Andrew Matabola and many more still refuse to believe that he has passed on - such was his greatness.
Matlala has graced people's lives more than he will know.
He is and always will remain a cathedral of loyalty and friendship to all of us in the fistic game.
Thank you for the memories, Jake.
'Thank you for the memories'
WHEN someone dies, people grieve about more than the simple loss of a beloved one.
They grieve for themselves, for the family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances.
People also grieve for the lives the deceased touched and for those they would have touched.
In the case of Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala - an erudite and principled man of the people, sportsman extraordinaire, family man and a friend in the true sense of the word - the grief is boxing's.
By all accounts, Matlala came from a simple family. He dedicated his life and boundless energy to the fistic sport in Meadowlands Zone 6 in Soweto.
He devoted all his world-class talent, time and resources to the cause of boxing - a sport he served with aplomb for 23 years.
The pocket-sized fighter was trained by Solly Hlatsh- wayo and Steve Masike. Matlala was a gem, a fully rounded boxing man, who was affable and intelligent with a sharp sense of humour.
As the doyen of his beloved Dube Boyz Club, Matlala was an indispensable part of the boxing intelligentsia in this country.
He was a good-natured, non-violent, home-loving individual. He had powerful opinions on boxing commissions, the superficiality of ring officials and crass incompetence.
Matlala was a likeable little big man with the heart of a lion inside the ring.
He became the first South African boxer to win the International Boxing Association title - a feat he achieved after dethroning legendary American Michael Cabajal - a five-time world boxing champion.
As all people do, Matlala has passed away. No more sparring sessions, no bags, no pads, no gloving...
Boxing and sport in general will be poorer without his bulky presence.
His comrade in arms, promoter Rodney Berman, former stable mate Takalani Ndlovu, Boxing SA's acting chief Loyiso Mtya, former SA champion Andrew Matabola and many more still refuse to believe that he has passed on - such was his greatness.
Matlala has graced people's lives more than he will know.
He is and always will remain a cathedral of loyalty and friendship to all of us in the fistic game.
Thank you for the memories, Jake.
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