Nikki Bascome is set for his first significant challenge when he faces Iwan “Pure Gold” Azore in a six-round welterweight bout at the Fairmont Southampton hotel next month.

With 16 wins from 26 bouts, Azore represents a major step up in class for Bascome who extended his undefeated record after a second-round stoppage of Donny Miller last month.

Azore has lost twice since returning to boxing after a four-year hiatus in March last year, but went the distance in both of those bouts against DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, a former WBO light welterweight champion, and Richard Holmes.

A Guyanese who lives in Trinidad, Azore will be the first southpaw Bascome has faced since his professional debut against George Quintero in Florida two years ago.

Bascome made light work of Miller, an ageing journeyman, in his previous bout, with many boxing observers such as Olympic medal-winner Clarence Hill calling for the 26-year-old to face higher-calibre opponents.

Nathan Dill, the Bermuda Boxing Federation president, believes Azore will have the experience and ring generalship to bring the best out of Bascome when the pair meet on Saturday, February 25.

“Finally we have an opponent that it appears will be able to go the length with Nikki,” Dill said.

“[Azore] is a classy opponent and to my surprise and pleasure, Nikki and his team were keen for this challenge.

“He doesn’t have heavy hands but he’s has been in there with some top people such as “Chop Chop” Corley and I’m expecting a technical fight.”

Bascome’s amateur stablemate Andre Lambe will be in action as he warms up for the Arnold Classic in Ohio in March.

Southpaw Lambe, who looked superb in his first-round stopping against Gilbert Vargas at the Berkeley Institute last month, will take on another fighter from the Baltimore Boxing Club.

Meanwhile, Tyler Christopher will be looking for revenge when he meets Baltimore’s Jason Cananaso in a rematch.

Christopher suffered the first defeat of his six-fight amateur career via a unanimous points decision last month and has since switched to Rego’s Boxing Gym from Controversy Gym.

There will also be several kickboxing bouts, with super heavyweight Jason Lowe, of the Bermuda Sanshou Association, up against an overseas opponent, while Zain Philpott, Samir Furqan, Keanu Wilson and Krista Dyer will also be in action.

Deondre Morris, who won a cruiserweight Destiny Muay Thai title in Toronto last month, will look to build on that success against an unnamed opponent.