Nikki Bascome, the Bermuda boxer, launched his professional career in the best possible way at the Highlands County Fair Convention Centre in Sebring, Florida, on Saturday night.

The 23-year-old welterweight recorded a unanimous points victory against American opponent George Quintero in his professional debut.

The judges’ cards had the orthodox Bascome ahead 10-9 at the end of each round during the bout witnessed by about forty Bermudians who attended the event to lend their support.

“Nikki fought a very good fight and won every round,” Allan “Forty” Rego, Bascome’s coach, said. “His opponent was also a very good fighter and the bout was evenly matched.”

Bascome appeared to be in a spot of bother when he received a standing-eight count in the final round of the four-round bout after being struck on the head by a hook shot from southpaw Quintero.

But any thoughts Quintero might have had of coming away victorious evaporated into thin air as Bascome came storming back with a flurry of punches to force his opponent on the back foot and end the bout strongly.

“It was not an easy fight for Nikki who received a standing-eight count after being hit with a hook shot when he was slightly off-balance,” Rego said. “Nikki came right back after the standing-eight count and landed around 12 punches to finish the fight strongly.

“Nikki fought a very good fight and did himself and Bermuda proud. This was a perfect start to his pro career and he deserved to win.”

Saturday’s bout was Bascome’s first since recording a points victory in his last appearance as an amateur over Matthew Abregu, of Argentina. at Berkeley Institute 12 months ago.

Regarded as Bermuda’s top male boxer, Bascome is a past Dynamic Fighting Championship junior middleweight champion who has won welterweight titles at the Platinum Gloves Tournament and the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic.