'I'm too old for the Olympics'

FRIDAY, OCT. 19: Promising young boxer Nikki Bascome says his future lies in turning pro, not the Olympics.

Bascome boxed an exhibition match at the All or Nothing fights last Saturday at the Fairmont Southampton.

He said his focus for the moment is on the Golden Gloves tournament.

“That’s going to give me a lot of experience and exposure, which I need.

“I don’t have any competition training in Bermuda being out there (in the US) is one of the main things for me right now to get more career jumping.”

Bascome said he has picked up one sponsor who helps him with travel expenses but he’s looking for someone to help him stay based in the US so he can get more fights, and use a proper training facility.

“I’m trying to work with David Bascome and the Hope4Life and see what they can do for me.

“When I’m in that environment, I can stay in the zone without any distractions. It would help me grow as a fighter.”

Bascome said if he had the support years ago he could have gone to the London Olympics, but now that is an opportunity lost as he will be too old for Rio in 2016.

“I really need to be off the island and training. I just need to take what I have and go pro. Mr Rego is getting me out there as much as he can to help me before I turn pro.

“By the time 2016 comes around I’m going to be 25. It doesn’t make sense.”