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Johannesburg - SuperSport has thrown its weight behind former world champion Baby Jake Matlala, who has hit upon hard times and is in ill health.
SuperSport will sponsor the broadcast of a benefit box and dine evening on January 27. The evening will be headlined by the IBO light-flyweight title bout between champion Hekkie Budler and countryman Gideon Buthelezi.
The fight will take place at Emperors Palace and will be sponsored by Nashua.
There will be a number of bouts at the black-tie event, supplemented by an auction of vintage memorabilia, live music by one of SA’s top bands and other entertainment, all to be broadcast live by the World of Champions.
Budler, the IBO champion, is unbeaten in 17 fights dating back to his debut in 2007. While he’s cleaned out the local light-flyweight division – the same weight Matlala campaigned so successfully in – Buthelezi insists Budler gets past him to claim he is the best in the division.
A southpaw, he won the IBO minimumweight title last year and looks to have the style and workrate to give Budler problems.
Budler is seeking redemption after his last fight, a below-par points win against Mexican journeyman Evaristo Primero five months ago. He knows he must show greater improvement to justify bigger bouts in future.
“It’s all up to him,” said promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves. “I know Buthelezi is coming to fight, so Hekkie can take nothing for granted.”
Matlala, who was Budler’s boyhood hero, enjoyed a remarkable career. Despite his diminutive size (just 1.48m), he fought successfully for 22 years and contested world titles on 18 occasions, winning the WBO flyweight, WBO light-flyweight, IBA light-flyweight, WBU flyweight and WBU light-flyweight belts.
Truly the biggest of little men, with a heart way too big for his small body, Matlala remains one of SA boxing’s all-time greats.
SuperSport will sponsor the broadcast of a benefit box and dine evening on January 27. The evening will be headlined by the IBO light-flyweight title bout between champion Hekkie Budler and countryman Gideon Buthelezi.
The fight will take place at Emperors Palace and will be sponsored by Nashua.
There will be a number of bouts at the black-tie event, supplemented by an auction of vintage memorabilia, live music by one of SA’s top bands and other entertainment, all to be broadcast live by the World of Champions.
Budler, the IBO champion, is unbeaten in 17 fights dating back to his debut in 2007. While he’s cleaned out the local light-flyweight division – the same weight Matlala campaigned so successfully in – Buthelezi insists Budler gets past him to claim he is the best in the division.
A southpaw, he won the IBO minimumweight title last year and looks to have the style and workrate to give Budler problems.
Budler is seeking redemption after his last fight, a below-par points win against Mexican journeyman Evaristo Primero five months ago. He knows he must show greater improvement to justify bigger bouts in future.
“It’s all up to him,” said promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves. “I know Buthelezi is coming to fight, so Hekkie can take nothing for granted.”
Matlala, who was Budler’s boyhood hero, enjoyed a remarkable career. Despite his diminutive size (just 1.48m), he fought successfully for 22 years and contested world titles on 18 occasions, winning the WBO flyweight, WBO light-flyweight, IBA light-flyweight, WBU flyweight and WBU light-flyweight belts.
Truly the biggest of little men, with a heart way too big for his small body, Matlala remains one of SA boxing’s all-time greats.
