Nikki Bascome will make a swift return to the ring against Mexican David Rangel in a six-round welterweight bout at North Field, National Sports Centre, on May 6.

It will be Bascome’s third fight since December, with the 26-year-old looking to build momentum after his unanimous points win over Iwan Azore — his most credible opponent to date — at the Fairmont Southampton last month.

Having faced two seasoned operators in his previous two bouts in Donny Miller, of the United States, and Guyanese Azore, Bascome will take on a younger opponent for the first time in his professional career.

With 12 victories from 17 bouts, Rangel is more experienced than Bascome despite being three years younger — although the orthodox fighter has lost four of his previous five outings. In his most recent bout against southpaw prospect Batyrzhan Jukembayev, of Kazakhstan, Rangel suffered a first-round knockout at the Bell Centre in Montreal in January.

He will be the second Mexican opponent Bascome has faced having demolished Erick Reyes in two rounds at the Fairmont Southampton in November 2015.

Nathan Dill, the Bermuda Boxing Federation president, said it was a perfect coincidence that Bascome will be up against a Mexican fighter on the weekend of Cinco de Mayo.

“It’s important for Nikki to get some names under his belt and Rangel will be a good opponent for him,” Dill said. “He’s been in with some good people and his ranking is pretty high.”

Bascome’s impressive victory over Azore has grabbed the attention of the Caribbean boxing community, said Dill, who believes the Bermudian could be challenging for regional titles in the near future.

“Azore had fought some big names, so for Nikki, a boxer with five fights to defeat such a seasoned fighter — well, it’s really put Nikki on notice,” Dill said.

“I’ve had calls from the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association, the Guyana Boxing Association and the Caribbean Boxing Federation and they’re very interested in the boxing movement in Bermuda.

“It looks like Nikki will be able to have a shot at a [Caribbean] title if he continues at this progression.”

Bascome’s bout will be the first to be held at North Field, with Dill keen to recreate the gritty atmosphere of the cavernous Number One Shed — which hosted ten Fight Nights — before being demolished in 2008.

The outdoor event will be staged under a huge tent with Dill expecting a bumper turnout to support Bascome, who appears to have captured the imagination of the Bermudian public.

“We know we can get 1,500 people out to these events and we’re expecting it to be standing-room only,” Dill said.

“We’ve been looking to test the concept of having an event at North Field. It’s something we’ve been dreaming about for a while.

“It’s kind of the diametric opposite of the Southampton Princess which is elegant and up scale. We really expect people to enjoy the venue and the open feel of it and create that Number One Shed-type atmosphere.”

The amateur undercard will feature several boxing bouts, including Andre Lambe and Tyler Christopher, of Forty Rego’s Gym — who will face overseas competition — as well as a number of matchups involving fighters from the Bermuda Sanshou Association.

Several amateur bouts for the island’s junior boxers will also be held during the day at North Field.