January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

Boxers pumped for historic last bouts at the Shed


A raucus packed house is expected to watch amateurs brawl it out in Number One Shed for Teachers' Rugby Fight Night. There will be a little bit of everything for the fight fan. Past favourites Reece Simpson, Chris Lemieux and Tom Healy return while Melissa Daponte and Julianna d'estelle-Roe are scheduled to duke it out in the only women's match of the evening.

Five boxers from Canada are flying in to help give Fight Night an international flavour.

If that wasn't enough, this is scheduled to be the last Fight Night at Number One Shed as the building is slated to be torn down this year.

Here James Whittaker and Don Burgess preview the bouts.

Nikki Bascome v

Andre Landy

17-year-old Nikki Bascome takes on fellow student Andre Landy in the first bout of the night.

Bascome is hyped as one of the most talented, young fighters at Police Gym.

The teenager admits he was hanging out on the streets before one of the police trainers, Charles Wade, got him into boxing.

"I was just out skylarking and this guy told me, 'stop wasting your talent and come down here and train properly'

"Boxing's humbled me. It helps me focus and keep my mind closed," said Bascome, who has RIP Jason engraved in his hair in memory of his cousin Jason Lightbourne, who was shot dead on Ord Road in July 2006.

Mervonne Hill v

Conrad Hinchey

Renegades Rugby player Conrad Hinchey hasn't been in a fight since he was 16.

"The other guy hit me and that was it. Hopefully this one will last a bit longer," said the 30-year-old New Zealander.

"I don't know much about my opponent. I know he's fought before but I'm taller than him, so hopefully my extra reach will make a difference."

Mike Barkhuizen v

Jared Powles

The battle of the South African accountants sees rugby player Barkhuizen take on Jared Powles.

Neither has any boxing experience but Barkhuizen, 27, believes his rugby training will help him.

"We're both novices, so I've got a good chance. Have I been in a fight before? What happens on the rugby field, stays on the rugby field."

Powles, 24, said he had seen the atmosphere of Fight Night on a YouTube clip and was determined to put on a good show.

Callon Burns v

Richard Phinn

Bermudian construction worker Callon Burns, 20, is looking for an early knockout against English accountant Richard Phinn.

Burns has been training on and off for five years, but hadn't been in the gym for a long time, before he was asked to step in as a late replacement.

"He's probably going to be fitter than me but I'm still predicting a win. I'm going for a knockout."

Phinn has got the basics down. He was schooled as a kid by his grandfather - who boxed in the army.

The 32-year-old is expecting his second child in two months and said this would be his last shot at an event he had always wanted to compete in since moving to Bermuda five years ago.

Phinn also plays soccer and tennis but said neither had prepared him for the challenge of boxing.

Jason Fox v Reece Simpson

Heavyweight Reece Simpson can't wait to get back in the ring after high blood pressure forced him to pull out of the police boxing night in October.

The 28-year-old said he had been training hard since then and was in good shape to take on Fox.

"I'm feeling pretty confident. I think I'm going to win. I've been working with Shaun Weaver for this fight and training three times a week," said the hard-hitting Simpson, who works at BGA wholesalers.

Lucien Marele v

Jashun Thomas

Butterfield and Vallis warehouseman Jashun Thomas is looking forward to making up for getting disqualified in last year's Fight Night. In his bout against Tom Healy, Thomas brought a street-brawling style that didn't sit well with the ref.

The 20-year-old learned his lesson and will be back as a much wiser fighter this time around.

The Bermudian said: "My jabbing has improved and I have much better control and my punches are more accurate.

"I'm just doing this for fun," Thomas said. "This is a fun thing for me."

He doesn't know anything about his opponent Marele, but is ready for whatever may be thrown at him.

Max Desrochers v

Chuck Morgan

Desrochers, a Fund accountant for City Edge Fund Services, will be making his fisticuffs' debut on Saturday. He's having to pay his dues as a new player for Teachers' Rugby Club.

"They told us that the Teachers' rookies need to fight." The French-Canadian laughed: "I don't mind fighting." Max has been training at the Police Gym for the past four weeks. He said: "I've got a lot of advice from those coaches. I am going to give it my best."

Devon Stowe v

Sinisha Erceg

Erceg boldly predicts "A knockout in the second round."

He's making his amateur debut and has received plenty of advice from his Mariners' Rugby Club team-mates who told him to "block out the crowd' so he can concentrate on his opponent.

Erceg added that he knows little about Devon Stowe, his opponent. "I know that I'm a little taller and a little heavier than him. I also know that he's a firefighter so he's got to be in good shape."

The IT expert said he's in good shape as well and figures his cardio will be up to the challenge of going three rounds - if it lasts that long.

Juliana d'Estelle-Roe v Melissa DaPonte

The only female fight of the night sees travel agent DaPonte take on L'Oriental Express's Julian d'Estelle-Roe.

Both girls have had one fight before. Da Ponte, also a rugby player, does not have time for girly sports like netball and hockey - "you get more aggression out, boxing," she said.

D'Estelle Roe, a soccer player, had her first fight as a stand-in at the Police boxing night in October. She said she would be better prepared this time and had a chance to win.

Bermuda v Canada

Mark Dunlop v Brian Curry

When MR Onions footballer Mark Dunlop first got in the ring at Fight Night 2006 he thought it would be a one-off.

Two years later he's at the top of the card as one of Bermuda's most experienced fighters.

Dunlop has a 4-1 record, his only loss coming against an experienced U.S. boxer at the Police Fight Night in '06.

He'll have the noisy MR Onions crowd behind him again when he takes on one of the Canadian fighters on Saturday.

"I'm one of the more experienced guys this time so it's a bit different. I'm fighting a proper boxer and not just another accountant."

Tyler Yantha v

Chris Lemieux

Multi-sports athlete Lemieux said he was 'encouraged" by his buddies to step back into the ring after last year's successful debut at Fight Night. Those same friends are flying in from Canada to watch him take his record to 2-0.

The heavyweight boxer also competes in a variety of sports, including rugby (Renegades), Volleyball, golf, squash, tennis, running.

He added: "I did this more for the getting in shape aspect. I don't think there's another sport that I do that is comparable that gets me in shape like boxing does - even the running. Running is completely different - it's static heart rate all the time. Boxing is more like sprinting and stopping, sprinting and stopping."

The accountant at FIL Limited beat Andrew Flint on a points decision in 2007.

"I found the experience great last time." He added that he "felt relief," when they announced the decision. Asked if he felt he had won, Lemieux said: "Not at the time, no."

He said last year's experience should help know what to expect in the ring this time and come away with another victory.

Tom Healy v

Stephen Baidacoff

Renegades rugby player Healy faces the biggest threat to his unbeaten record on Saturday night.

The 29-year-old has a 4-0 record but admits it is a little bit more daunting to be facing someone for whom boxing is their number one sport.

"These guys are coming over from a Toronto gym. They are the real deal. Without a dobt it's going to be my toughest fight yet, but hopefully I can remain unbeaten at the end of it.

Lamark Ingram v

Jason Baker

Golf-cart attendant Lamark Ingram is fairly new to the sport, but has shown plenty of promise.

He measured up well against an experienced New York firefighter at the Police black-tie night in October and has been matched up against quality overseas opposition again,

He trains at Controversy Gym with the three other local fighters taking on Canadian opposition.

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