Bascome victory official finally
Nikki Bascome’s impressive win by technical knockout over American Claudele Duprier will now count towards his career record.
The Bermuda boxer was initially denied the win his sparkling display deserved after Oscar Lightbourne, the acting commissioner, refused to sanction July’s bout at Bermuda College Gym after Bascome’s opponent failed to make the weight required.
However, after a careful review of the matter, the Bermuda Boxing Commission has reversed the decision, improving the welterweight’s record to an unblemished 3-0.
In a written statement, Craig Morfitt, the Bermuda Boxing Commissioner, said: “The Bermuda Boxing Commission has reviewed its decision not to sanction the bout between Nikki Bascome and Claudele Duprier that took place on July 12, 2015.
“On July, 11 2015, the Commission presided over the weigh-in for the bout. Nikki Bascome weighed in at 145lbs while Claudele Duprier weighed in at 164.5lbs. Mr Duprier was given two hours in which to make weight. Instead, he and his coaches left the building.
“The weight difference between the two boxers was significant, putting Duprier three weight classes above Bascome — the upper limit for welterweight is 147lbs and the upper limit for super middleweight is 168lbs [with super welterweight and middleweight laying between those classes].
“Further, the rules require that boxers up to welterweight wear eight ounce gloves, while those above welterweight wear ten ounce gloves.
“Having considered the disparity in weights and the associated risk to the lighter boxer [Bascome], the Commission decided not to sanction the bout to protect Mr Bascome. Despite the withdrawal of sanctioning, both coaches decided to proceed with the bout which Mr Bascome won on a TKO decision.
“The Commission has since reviewed the circumstances of the Bascome-Duprier bout. While sanctioning was withdrawn to protect one of the boxers, the fact remains that the bout did proceed.
“The Commission has decided to retroactively sanction the bout. As a result of this decision, Mr Bascome’s win over Mr Duprier will now become part of each boxers’ official fight records.”
Bascome will put is unbeaten record on the line when he steps back into the ring to face Pilo Reyes, of Mexico, at The Fairmont Southampton on Saturday. Reyes, like Bascome, has a 3-0 record and could potentially pose as his Bermudian rival’s toughest opponent yet.
In Bascome’s previous bout at the Fairmont Southampton last November, he triumphed over Canadian Kru Joe Marchand-Tipping with a unanimous points victory on the undercard of Teresa Perozzi’s loss to American Kali Reiss for the vacant IBA world middleweight title.
The undercard of Saturday’s event will feature three Bermuda heavyweights Corey Boyce, Shannon Ford and Stefan Dill. Boyce will take on a Canadian Danyel Avram, while Ford and Dill will face each other in a re-match. Dill won the previous bout.