Nikki Bascome says his fans can expect a more disciplined and engaging performance from him when he steps between the ropes to face Jamaican Kevin ‘Bus Boy’ Hylton in his next professional bout.

The two fighters are scheduled to go to-to-toe in a welterweight fight at a yet to be confirmed local venue in May.

“I am definitely excited about that,” Bascome told The Royal Gazette. “It’s good for me; I am staying busy as far as getting back in the ring from January.

“I have no complaints and I am happy because being out of the ring since the pandemic was kind of tough.”

The 31-year-old ended a two-year hiatus brought on by the global Covid-19 pandemic with a unanimous points decision against Canadian Dylan Rushton in the main event of the Fight Night Champion promotion at The Shed, Dockyard, in January.

He dictated much of the eight-round bout and connected with the cleaner shots and combinations throughout to claim a tenth professional victory.

“I had a mission from my fight up at Princess [Fairmont Southampton] before the pandemic to stay active, and then when the pandemic happened it just put a halt to my momentum,” Bascome added.

“So after two years of not having a fight, being able to finally fight was good. I am getting back in the ring again and I am just trying to stay positive now and get the ball back rolling.”

The Bermuda versus Jamaica fight card was announced at the Fight Night Champion promotion held at The Shed at the weekend.

Hylton, whose record stands at 7-7-1, last fought in 2019.

Asked for his initial assessment on his Jamaican opponent, Bascome said, “we just got the opponent, so my coach is going to sit down this week to study him. I can’t really say too much about him yet because I just got him named.”

The orthodox fighter will prepare for the fight training under former IBO super-featherweight champion Jeff Mayweather, who is the uncle of five-times world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“I am flying out to train in Vegas for this fight and will be leaving in two weeks,” Bascome said. “I will be training with Jeff Mayweather between his new gym and Floyd Mayweather’s.

“The sparring and just the change of environment is going to be good for me. Just getting outside of my comfort zone and going away to a place where I can learn from different fighters.”

Bascome admits he was not up to his best in his previous bout against Canadian Rushton because of a lack of competition owing to the pandemic.

“It was just a little bit of rust for me because it was so long me not being in the ring,” he said.

“But that is behind me now and I am just trying to focus on this one and improve.”

Asked what can his fans expect from him during his next foray in the ring, Bascome added: “They can expect a more disciplined Nikki this fight and a more engaged fighter.”

Meanwhile, Bascome’s compatriot and fellow welterweight, Andre Lambe, will also feature on the fight card against a yet to confirmed Jamaican opponent.

“I am excited to get back in the ring,” Lambe said. “We are nine weeks away now, but I am happy to stay active and keep working on my craft.

“I am building up my career now. I am trying to get to a certain amount of fights by the end of the year, so I am ready.”

The 26-year-old extended his unblemished professional record to 4-0 with an emphatic victory in his maiden headline bout against American Dajuan Robinson. Referee Anthony Mouchette stopped the lopsided contest two minutes and 50 seconds into the first round after Lambe dropped his opponent to the canvas three times.

It was Lambe’s third first-round technical knockout victory and fourth consecutive overall.