ODESUR, the Association of Olympic Committees of South America, organizes the event every four years with approximately 3,500 South American athletes competing in 31 different sports.

“I am delighted that ODESUR has embraced women’s boxing in this way following the example set by the IOC,” said AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu. “It is my hope now that other multi-sport events around the world will follow this lead.”

ODESUR President Carlos Arthur Nuzman said: “Undoubtedly to have women’s boxing in the program of this event will provide a valuable opportunity to promote and strengthen boxing in our continent and to provide NOCs with the chance of preparing and sending their athletes to compete in another Olympic event.”

NAOC already chose the chief of Mission for the ODESUR Games, which will be it’s Treasurer Mr. Miro Seferina

The 23-year-old super-heavyweight (+91kg) lives and trains in Breda in the Netherlands, is a national of Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles and the nephew of kick-boxer Errol Zimmerman.

Before the World Championships, he took part in the “Road to Milan” training camp in Assisi after being selected by the National Olympic Committee of the Netherlands Antilles. He had three test bouts during the training camp before taking on Iraq’s Ali Khaleel Salman in his opening bout of the World Championships, which he won 11-4.

It almost looked like Zimmerman would take control of his second-round contest with Cuba’s Erislandy Savon Cotilla as well, especially when one of his ferocious hooks made contact with the Cuban. But Savon’s experience showed in the end and he booked his place in the quarter-finals at Zimmerman’s expense with an 11-4 victory.

The defeat did little to dent the rookie’s confidence, however: “I think I was today the better boxer,” he said defiantly. “He was making a lot more punches but I was blocking everything with my arms. For me, I had a great victory and it’s only my second bout. It’s a big victory for me to be here and to fight like this.

“I had a great time in Assisi. It was a whole new experience. I’m a fighter, so whether it’s kick-boxing or boxing it doesn’t matter. I love to fight and you can see it too. Next year I’ll be the champion.”

Zimmerman could be the first of many to get a break in boxing in a nation which he thinks has great potential: “We have a lot of talent but there’s no money to organize matches there. We know if we get some support and some money, all our little boys, who are great athletes, can be tremendous boxers and I know we could be the next Cuba.”

This program is an initiative from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) for the 2009 Boxing World Championships in Milan (Italy). AIBA will continue this development program after Milan by selecting the 10 best boxers from this training camp and supporting them in their training from 2010 onwards, and in their participation in the qualification events for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. AIBA also plans to start the same program for the 2010 Youth World Championships, which is a qualification event for the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. The young talent Justin Gogulski from Baas Sports Curacao will join this youth program.

Benjey Zimmerman will compete during the test matches against Yugoslavia, Virgin Islands and Italy and he thinks that he will leave a good impression.

Source: http://www.baassports.com