Former world boxing champion Baby Jake Matlala started a four-day visit to the Eastern Cape on Tuesday.
His first stop was East London, where he spent time with children from various schools, demonstrating the skills that made him a champion.
He congratulated Vuyani Bungu on winning the vacant IBO featherweight title at Carnival City on Saturday.
”I am excited for Bungu even though Takalani Ndlovu and myself are from the same stable. We all know that the Eastern Cape is a home for boxers. But the province is faced with a crisis though — it loses boxers to Gauteng,” Matlala said.
He said it felt good to be in the province, since he had fought several fights here in the early 1980s –losing some, winning others.
The former champion said he enjoys working with children, encouraging them to attend school in order to realise their dreams.
”In Queenstown I will conduct boxing coaching clinics, then from there I will be in Umtata on Thursday. I always make time for children — to motivate and nurture them.” – Sapa