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Nikki Bascome dealt another late change of opponent

Late switch: Nikki Bascome, left, has been dealt another change of opponent his headline bout on the Epic Entertainment Fight Night Champion card, with Daniel Arriaga drafted in for the injured Waseem El Sinawi (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

Nikki Bascome is adamant he is not fazed by having yet another change of opponent for the Epic Entertainment Fight Night Champion card tomorrow.

The Bermuda professional was initially due to meet Kevin Hylton in the headline bout on May 28, before the promoter was forced to postpone the event after the Jamaican contingent missed its connecting flight out of Canada.

Further visa complications last week meant that Hylton was replaced by Canadian Waseem El Sinawi, ironically an opponent Bascome was due to face on the previous promotion in January, before he tested positive for Covid-19 during the build-up to the fight and was replaced by compatriot Dylan Rushton.

However, just days before getting into the ring, Bascome was dealt another blow, with injury ruling out El Sinawi, who has been replaced by American Daniel Arriaga, with the 32-year-old coming into the bout with two victories and four defeats among his nine professional fights.

“Obviously it’s challenging when you have to prepare for another change in opponent but it happens and you just have to keep adapting and adjusting,” said Bascome.

“This is third different opponent I’ve had to prepare for but I just have to do the best I can and make the quick adjustments that I need to ahead of the fight.

“I’ve seen videos of Daniel and he seems to be a bit of switch hitter, who goes from being an orthodox fighter to a southpaw, which can be a little tough to face.

“However, skill-wise, I think I’m the better fighter and while I don’t underestimate any opponent, I’ll do what I need to implement my fight plan and boss the ring.

“I approach any fight with the same mentality and so that hasn’t changed at all. That’s always helped me throughout my career and so I’ll be going into the ring to do the best I can, as I always have.”

Having not fought since January because of the enforced postponements, the 31-year-old conceded he is desperate to get back into the ring, having gone through a ten-week training camp.

“After waiting so long for this fight night I can’t wait to get in there and give it my all,” added Bascome, who is expecting an electric atmosphere in front of a capacity crowd at The Shed in Dockyard.

“My last fight was all the way back in January and so I’m just raring to go.

“I’m expecting an amazing atmosphere in what should be a great event. I’m really looking forward to it.”

In preparation for the original promotion in May, Bascome headed out to Las Vegas to reunite with former IBO super-featherweight champion Jeff Mayweather, the uncle of five-times world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

While being disappointed with that postponement, he believes that camp and the extra enforced delay have allowed him to be completely prepared for tomorrow’s bout.

“That camp was an amazing experience.” he said. “He has his own gym out there now and so being in another different environment was great. I sparred with a lot of different guys and ran up in the mountains.

“It was disappointing that the original promotion was postponed because I felt rejuvenated.

“It’s been a long camp and I’ve made a lot of sacrifices over the last ten weeks; it’s taken its toll at times.

“However, I know I’ve been able to prepare the very best I can and I’m definitely ready to go now.”

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Published June 24, 2022 at 8:20 am (Updated June 24, 2022 at 8:20 am)

Nikki Bascome dealt another late change of opponent

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