January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
I just wanted to see her smile
The 17-year-old made headlines last year for turning his life around and getting his GED after being labelled a troublemaker and getting expelled from school.
Now he has channeled his aggression and discovered a flair for boxing, with coaches at the Police gym commenting that he has the potential to be a future Olympian.
He's already represented Bermuda in Boston and would have competed in the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association's championships in St Martin last year, had it not been cancelled at the last minute.
And on Saturday he'll step into the ring in front of 1,500 fans to make his Fight Night debut at Number One Shed against fellow teenager Andre Landy.
Bascome was literally a street fighter before he started boxing. Charles Wade, one of the coaches at Police Gym, saw him scrapping in his neighbourhood and urged him to come down to the gym.
"Charles stays around my neighbourhood. He just saw me skylarking, you know, play fighting, and he said you think you're tough? You've got all the energy come down the gym and show what you can do."
Bascome says his life was on the right road before he started boxing.
"I'd been in a lot of trouble before at school and things like that, I got cut from CedarBridge. I was getting into fights, skipping class and stuff like that.
"It kept going round like that but I just decided it was time to change."
He said his main inspiration to get off the streets and back to school was his granny.
"I caused her a lot of stress and I just wanted to see her smile."
Another turning point for Bascome was the death of his cousin Jason Lightbourne, who was shot and killed on Ord Road, Paget in July 2006.
Bascome, who has RIP Jason cut into his hair in memory of his family member who was a close neighbourhood friend, is reluctant to talk about it, but says the incident did affect him.
" I guess it made me realize that life is short. It opened my eyes," he added.
Right now he's at college working hard and training regularly. He says boxing has helped him focus and opened up new opportunities.
"I love the boxing, it really humbled me. It helps me focus and close my mind.
"You get to see the world and stuff. I've been to Boston and St Martin to fight with Bermuda teams.
"Right now I'll just see what comes my way. It takes a lot out of you but I'm going to keep training and see where it takes me."
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