Oscar Lightbourne, Bermuda’s acting boxing commissioner, has defended his decision not to sanction last weekend’s welterweight bout between Nikki Bascome and Claudele Duprier.

Lightbourne made the call in the “interest of safety” after Duprier failed to make the weight at the official weigh-in held the day before last Saturday’s Extreme Entertainment Knock Out Night at Bermuda College Gym.

“I followed the guidelines as per the rules and did not sanction the fight because Nikki’s opponent did not make the required weight and it becomes a safety factor,” Lightbourne said. “The commissioner will determine if the fight will be sanctioned or not as long as the necessary requirements are met.

“I conducted the weigh in on Friday and that’s when I made the decision again following the guidelines laid out per the rules. It’s a safety issue and that’s why rules are in place.”

Lightbourne would not divulge exactly how much Duprier was overweight, but, according to Bascome’s trainer Allen “Forty” Rego, the American tipped the scale at 164½lbs while his Bermudian opponent weighed in at 145lbs.

If true, it means that Bascome fought an opponent in the middleweight division as a welterweight.

“He was a few classes above and as you know there are various weight categories with which you have to comply with,” Lightbourne said.

“If you and I are fighting in the flyweight of 125lbs and you came in 20lbs over and our coaches agreed to fight and then you go and eat another five to ten pounds of food how much more are you weighing than me now?”

Despite the safety concerns raised by the acting commissioner the fight went ahead as planned after both corners agreed to do so.

“I agreed to the fight, the other coach agreed to the fight and the fight went on,” Rego said.

“Anybody that goes up against Nikki is going to be scrutinised by me. After I looked at this guy [Duprier] I said ‘Nikki, we are all right, let’s have a prayer’.”

Bascome went on to secure a third-round knockout victory over his heavier opponent who was making his professional debut.

However, because the fight was not sanctioned, essentially reducing it to an exhibition, the result will not count towards either fighter’s professional records.

This means that Bascome’s career will remain at 2-0 and his search for a maiden knockout at this level continues.