Nikki Bascome, the Bermuda boxer, has a style that is reminiscent of Floyd Mayweather Jr, the undefeated five-division world champion, according to Clarence Hill.

Hill, who claimed the bronze medal at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, was impressed by Bascome’s dazzling performance in last week’s unanimous points victory against Canadian Joe Marchand-Tipping at The Fairmont Southampton.

The welterweight, who trains at Rego’s Gym in Warwick, fought a clever and tactical bout against Marchand- Tipping, never straying away from the game plan.

“He fought a very disciplined fight and it was surprising to me how disciplined he was,” Hill, the Bermuda Sports Hall of Famer, said. “He clearly had a plan and stuck to it.

“I think Nikki really showed a great sense of boxing for the young person that he is. He did a really great job because he thought and executed, and that’s a good sign of a fighter who can go a long way.

“I really believe that Nikki can be another Mayweather because he boxes just like him.

“He thinks, gets off the ropes like Mayweather and he hits you getting off the ropes.”

Last Friday’s fight on the undercard of Teresa Perozzi’s IBA world middleweight title fight with American Kali Reis was Bascome’s first since defeating George Quintero, also of the United States, in his professional debut in Florida in February.

Although he is adamant that Bascome can go on to bigger and better things, to reach his full potential, Hill believes that the 24-year-old must spend more time perfecting his craft in the United States.

“Nikki needs to leave Bermuda in order to get established in the United States as a middleweight because he can only fight so often here,” Hill said. “Not taking anything away from Bermuda, but the boxing world here is very limited so he can’t do it here because he is only fighting four rounds.

“How much money can he make as a professional fighting four rounds at The Fairmont or BAA?

“He can’t make any money in Bermuda, so to better himself as a fighter and earn more money Nikki needs to leave this Island to fight more rounds and get better deals.

“Nikki definitely has the potential, but he can’t stay here because that talent will go to waste.

“And, as good as he is, he needs to move quick because of his age.”