Bascome remains boxing's golden boy

Amateur boxer Nikki Bascome punched his way to glory at last week’s Platinum Gloves Tournament in Orlando, Florida.

The rising star won the gold medal in the Welterweight Novice Division after going unbeaten in three fights with one win coming via a first round knockout against an American opponent.

Among Bascome’s biggest obstacles in Florida was making the necessary weight and stepping into the ring on three occasions in as many days.

“It was kind of tough this time around, fighting three days in a row,” he added.

The Bermudian, who is only two fights away from moving up to the more gruelling Open Division, said he was “pleased” with his overall performances in the ring but reckons there’s still room for improvement.

“I always try to do better,” he added. “I’m just going to train harder to get better.”

Trainer Allan (Forty) Rego said Bascome is his “biggest critic”.

“He’s never pleased with what he does,” he smiled.

Rego believes his 19 year-old fighter has enormous potential and reckons he has the key to unlock the latter’s success.

“I know where he needs to go and how to get there — as long as he keeps applying himself because you don’t get nothing from nothing. You only get out of something what you put into it,” he said.

Due to inadequate training facilities and limited sparring options in Bermuda, Bascome has been forced to go overseas to broaden his horizons.

“We cannot get what we are looking for back home because we don’t have the quality sparring and training that we need,” Rego said. “Out here we are in pretty good shape.”

Rego recommends Bascome undergoes at least another 20 to 30 sparring sessions in the gym before he moves up to the Open Class.

“The Open Class is a difficult class to be in and right now Nikki is a novice,” he added.

Earlier this year Bascome won the gold medal at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in Columbus, Ohio.

The promising athlete has turned his life around after being kicked out of the public education system at age 16.

Since then Bascome passed the General Educational Development (GED) and put Bermuda on the map with a number of outstanding achievements in his chosen sport.

“Nikki is a role model,” Rego said. “He’s a good role model and an inspiration for others.”