Bascome aims for pro debut

Boxer Nikki Bascome picked up a victory over an opponent from Hungary last week.

The welterweight competed in Tampa, Florida.

Manager Allan ‘Forty’ Rego said Bascome has stepped up his training with the goal of turning pro sometime after the 2012 Olympics.

“In the morning he runs five miles everyday. After that he gives me 10 rounds of shadow boxing and 200 pushups.

“After that he comes home and gets a shower, eats his breakfast and watches boxing matches on TV.”

He said at 5pm they head to the gym where Bascome trains for another three and a half hours.

“I have him training like a pro because if he wants to go pro he has to train that way.

“It’s working for us. Everything I entered him in last year, he won.”

Bascome won a gold medal at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in Ohio and also won Florida’s Platinum Gloves Tournament last June.

A row between Rego and the Bermuda Amateur Boxing Association prevented his coach from attending the CAC Games in Puerto Rico with Bascome.

Rego’s protégé lost in his first fight, which was a major disappointment.

“It’s about time people knew about this boy Nikki Bascome.”

Rego said Bascome won the regional championship when he won an unanimous decision against the Hungarian.”

Rego added that Bascome would box a similar number of events in 2011 as he did in 2010.

The trainer said: “He needs to have 16 more fights before I turn him pro.”