Jaylon Roberts will venture into the unknown when he faces Canadian opponent Jonathan Kirupakaran in what could potentially be his final amateur appearance during Bermuda Boxing Association’s Fight Fest at Bermuda College Gymnasium tonight.

The experienced orthodox fighter, who trains out of Fresh and Hungry Boxing Gym, has no knowledge of his opponent but is backing himself to come away from the middleweight contest with the desired outcome.

“I actually haven’t seen a picture, I can’t look him up online. But as long as I do what I do best and just compete and keep a level head I think I can beat just about anybody honestly,” Roberts told The Royal Gazette.

The 33-year-old is satisfied with his preparations and condition heading into the three-round bout, that will take place on the undercard of the international event pitting local boxers against their Canadian counterparts.

“Preparation has been good. I have been training since January, pretty heavy during my runs,” he added.

“There was a fight around May 24 and it got dropped. I ran the Bermuda Half Marathon so my conditioning was at a pretty good level, and I’ve just stayed consistent with that since.”

The BBA is using the event to help in its efforts to establish a national team and Roberts is absolutely thrilled to see local fighters being afforded such exposure competing at the international level.

“It’s a blessing honestly to have people come in and bring the best out of Bermuda and allow Bermudians to actually watch it,” he said.

Roberts, whose record stands at 8-3, will no doubt be keen to end his amateur career on a winning note before hopefully turning professional by next year.

“I would like for that to happen [turn pro]. I’ve got all my paperwork and stuff like that in, so I am just waiting,” he added.

“I would like for it to be my last amateur fight, but I don’t know how the paperwork and stuff is going to go.”

The main event at tonight’s BBA Fight Fest will see local amateur Adrian Roach do battle with Canadian Taverio Stewart in a super-welterweight contest. Roach’s record stands at 28-6 and the more experienced Stewart at 50-16.

The undercard also features Bermuda’s Ngai Franklin, Marcus Vassell, Legai Tucker, Jahnia Trott and Bruce Perinchief.

Tucker will take on rival lightweight Hami Madadikahkeshi, Vassell has been pitted against Munir Abdul-Jabbar in a super-welterweight clash with Perinchief facing Christopher Balodis, also at super-welterweight. Trott will do battle with Yusef Emara in a light-heavyweight bout and Franklin against Leon Ezekiel Cummings in the super-middleweight division.

Canada head coach Victor Dei is thrilled to be on island and says his fighters are looking forward to putting on a great show against their local opposition.

“Grant MMA & Boxing Gym is proud to be here with five amazing young men aspiring to leave their mark in the sport of boxing,” he said.

“We know the competition will be stiff, but we would have it no other way, and look forward to putting on a great show for all those in attendance.

“Team Toronto would like to thank Nate [BBA president Nathan Dill] and the beautiful island of Bermuda for inviting and hosting this event. It’s amazing to see such sport for boxing.”

Action gets under way at Bermuda College Gymnasium at 6pm, with a masters exhibition bout featuring trainer Leo Richardson, who is celebrating his birthday, and American Omar Anderson, a DJ turned boxer.

There are also two junior bouts scheduled involving locals fighters, with Jordan Peterkin taking on Mustafa Abdul-Jabar in a super-flyweight contest and Zane Furbert-Tankard facing Musa Adbul-Jabar in the lightweight division.