Boxing promoter Joe DeGuardia is promising this Saturday?s ?Punchout in Paradise? will be the first of many big fights on the Island.

Former Olympic silver medallist David Defiagbon takes on Ron Guerroro at BAA this weekend for the vacant WBC Continental Heavyweight Championship in one of five fights on the card.

And New York-based DeGuardia is hoping the event will be the first of many as he attempts to boost the sport?s profile.

?Bermuda is a beautiful place which is one reason to stage the fight there,? said DeGaurdia, who began setting up the fight card on his first visit here as far back as November 2001.

?But we also want to try and give boxing a boost on an Island where it used to be a hotbed a few years back.

?The aim is to put on some first-class fights but also to give a shot in the arm to the professional and amateur boxing scenes in Bermuda.?

DeGuardia added that he is hoping to stage events such as Saturday?s ?at the very least once a year?.

He also revealed the details of Bermudian pro Teresa Perozzi?s opponent, whose first professional fight on home soil is attracting massive interest both inside and outside the boxing fraternity.

Perozzi, whose one previous pro bout was fought in Las Vegas 15 months ago, will be taking on New Yorker Norma Galloway, whose record stands at one win, three losses and a draw ? the victory coming by way of a split decision in March 2002 over Meagan McBain at the Park Central New York Hotel.

Perozzi, who has admitted to being nervous ahead of her home pro debut, will be doing limited research on the opponent ? announced yesterday ? preferring to ?concentrate on what I am doing?.

And for DeGuardia, having Perozzi fight in Saturday?s spectacular will be a vital part of the evening?s entertainment.

?Including Teresa on the card is a vital part of the success of the event,? continued DeGuardia.

?She may not be in the main fight, but she is the Island?s only pro, so it is very important that she gets a chance to fight. Running events like this is a chance to expose to Bermuda to some top class boxing but it is also about promoting the Island?s fighters.

?She is a professional Bermudian boxer so it is only right that she fights in this event.

?It is going to be a great night of boxing ? a fantastic night of action?.