Pilo Reyes intends the throw “punches in bunches” and swarm all over Nikki Bascome with relentless pressure in tonight’s professional welterweight bout.

At a good-natured weigh-in at the Beyond Fitness Gym yesterday, Reyes and Bascome came face-to-face for the first time ahead of their four-round bout at the Fairmont Southampton hotel.

Reyes, who hails from Chihuahua in Northwestern Mexico, was first onto the scales and was well inside the 147lb limit at 140lb, while a confident and relaxed-looking Bascome came in at 145.5lb.

Although the pair have identical 3-0 records, they have very different fighting styles, according to Reyes, who prides himself on being a typical Mexican boxer and would be more than happy to stand and trade blows with Bascome.

Primarily a muay thai fighter with 14 bouts under his belt, Reyes, 26, said he had faith in his knockout power and baulked at suggestions he was nothing more than a glorified sparring partner for the home town favourite.

“I move forward like a typical Mexican boxer, always, always looking for the fight,” said Reyes via a translator. “I like to throw lots of punches.

“This will not be an easy fight [for Bascome] and I’m confident of victory. I can talk about a knockout, but it’s important that we both put on a good fight for the Bermuda people.”

A boxing cliché states that “styles make fights”, with Reyes believing the contrasting virtues of the two fighters should make for an explosive encounter at the glitzy Poinciana Ballroom.

“I know Nikki is a great fighter and from what I’ve seen [on videotape] he has very fast hands,” Reyes said. “I think both of our styles will work well together and it will be a very good fight.

“I hope to learn a lot from this fight as I move forward in my boxing career.”

Bascome, who returned to the Island this week from an intensive training camp at Pichi’s Boxing Pit in Orlando, feels confident of executing a successful game plan against Reyes.

The 25-year-old said he will look to establish his jab early on and remain slippery and elusive to prevent Reyes from implementing any type of bully-boy tactics.

“I’m just focusing on my game plan, nothing else,” Bascome said. “I’ll be looking to work on the fundamentals: lots of jabs and good movement. Hopefully things will fall into place. “I’m not exactly sure how the fight will go, but hopefully you’ll see all of the things I’ve been working on.

“I’ve got a job to do and I’m ready to go. I’m just need to go in there and do what I do best, and that’s box.”

The amateur undercard will feature Bermuda heavyweights Corey Boyce, of the Bermuda Muay Thai Association, Shannon Ford, of the Bermuda Sanshou Association, and Police Gym’s Stefan Dill.

Boyce will face Danyel Avram, of the MAS Academy of Martial Arts in Ontario, while Ford will look to avenge his defeat to Dill in the previous meeting between the pair.

The other amateur bouts will include Robert Somner, of Controversy Gym, who will take on Police Gym’s DiAndre Burgess. Tyler Christopher, also of Controversy Gym, will be involved in a rematch with Kaya Simmons, of Forty Rego’s Gym. Christopher comfortably beat Simmons at this year’s Bermuda Boxing National Championships.

Tickets are available from the International Sports Shop, AF Smith, online at Ptix.bm. General admission is $60 and ringside $95. Doors open at 7pm.