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Johannesburg - An ill Baby Jake Matlala on Thursday missed the launch of the "Big Little Men" testimonial tournament arranged for him.
The former SA superstar was in hospital, receiving treatment for the pneumonia-related illness that had laid him low in the past three months.
"We hope Baby Jake will be at the ringside on Thursday week when the six-bout event takes place," Golden Gloves promoter Rodney Berman said at the launch at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg.
"Unfortunately, he was not well enough to be here with us this afternoon."
The six-bout "Night of the Little Big Men" tournament will take place at Emperors Palace on January 27.
It will be headed by an IBO junior flyweight title fight between Hekkie Budler, the champion, and Gideon Buthelezi, the IBO minimumweight champion.
The two South Africans have been rivals since their amateur days.
Buthelezi may now have a weight disadvantage, but he will be out to avenge two narrow defeats in amateur bouts against Budler.
Berman said it was considered appropriate to head the programme with fighters in the weight in which Matlala fought for much of his career.
"As testimony of the esteem and stature in which Matlala is held by the sporting public, we have already sold 80 per cent of the 1 000 seats for the box-and-dine tournament, which will also be televised live on SuperSport," he said.
Matlala is the four-times holder of an assortment of world titles.
Also on show will be up-and-coming SA heavyweight Flo Simba, who will try to extend an unbeaten record in eight bouts, including seven knockouts, against Zimbabwean journeyman Sting Chomunorwa.
Chomunorwa has declared himself teacher against student in the confrontation. But a record of six wins from 14 bouts suggests the 27-year-old is unlikely to be the meaningful opponent needed to test Simba.
Also at heavyweight, Stephen Castle (5-1-2; 2) meets Elvis Moyo (0-3-1) in a scheduled six-rounder. Moving up to lightweight, Warren Joubert (16-2-1; 10) takes on Takalani Dangala (5-5; 2) over six rounds.
In a lightweight bout over four rounds, Alexander Jonker fights Charles Sekhwibidu and in another four-rounder at featherweight Prince Ndlovu faces Gert Arris.
The former SA superstar was in hospital, receiving treatment for the pneumonia-related illness that had laid him low in the past three months.
"We hope Baby Jake will be at the ringside on Thursday week when the six-bout event takes place," Golden Gloves promoter Rodney Berman said at the launch at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg.
"Unfortunately, he was not well enough to be here with us this afternoon."
The six-bout "Night of the Little Big Men" tournament will take place at Emperors Palace on January 27.
It will be headed by an IBO junior flyweight title fight between Hekkie Budler, the champion, and Gideon Buthelezi, the IBO minimumweight champion.
The two South Africans have been rivals since their amateur days.
Buthelezi may now have a weight disadvantage, but he will be out to avenge two narrow defeats in amateur bouts against Budler.
Berman said it was considered appropriate to head the programme with fighters in the weight in which Matlala fought for much of his career.
"As testimony of the esteem and stature in which Matlala is held by the sporting public, we have already sold 80 per cent of the 1 000 seats for the box-and-dine tournament, which will also be televised live on SuperSport," he said.
Matlala is the four-times holder of an assortment of world titles.
Also on show will be up-and-coming SA heavyweight Flo Simba, who will try to extend an unbeaten record in eight bouts, including seven knockouts, against Zimbabwean journeyman Sting Chomunorwa.
Chomunorwa has declared himself teacher against student in the confrontation. But a record of six wins from 14 bouts suggests the 27-year-old is unlikely to be the meaningful opponent needed to test Simba.
Also at heavyweight, Stephen Castle (5-1-2; 2) meets Elvis Moyo (0-3-1) in a scheduled six-rounder. Moving up to lightweight, Warren Joubert (16-2-1; 10) takes on Takalani Dangala (5-5; 2) over six rounds.
In a lightweight bout over four rounds, Alexander Jonker fights Charles Sekhwibidu and in another four-rounder at featherweight Prince Ndlovu faces Gert Arris.
