Accra, Oct 17, GNA - The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has said it will ensure that it immortalizes one of Ghana's boxing greats, Eddie Blay, who passed away last Saturday, after a long battle with illness.
The 1962 and 1964 Gold medalists at the Commonwealth and All Africa Games who died of brain tumor last Saturday, was until his death the Chairman of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Authority (GABA).
Mr Moses Foh-Amoaning, Chairman of the GBA said his outfit will team up with the GABA to name the impending amateur boxing league in honour of the veteran boxer.
He said naming the league after the boxer, who was inducted into the National Sports Hall of Fame two years ago, will be one of the best ways to immortalize the great boxer and trainer whose exploits in the amateur ranks placed Ghana among one of the best sport in the country.
Mr Foh-Amoaning told the GNA Sports that the two bodies have reached an advanced stage in instutituting the event with some companies and television stations expressing interest in the programme.
According to the GBA Chairman, even though the late boxer has received many honours, naming the league after him will be a great recognition of his exploits and assistance to boxing and expressed the hope that the idea will be embraced by all.
He added that the GBA will also name the Trainer of the Year Award at its annual awards night, after Blay who not only contributed his quota to the nation as a boxer but was a great trainer as well.
Mr Foh-Amaning described the death of the boxer as a terrible loss and sad news, adding that boxing has lost a great personality who loved and lived the sport. Blay has chalked enormous success in boxing, but even though his achievements were restricted to the amateur ranks, he was the nation's sole medalist at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, winning bronze and crowning it with Gold at the 1966 Commonwealth Games.
He is also on record to have won a sliver medal at the 1966 Africa Boxing Championship held in Nigeria. 17 Oct. 06
