Nikki Bascome believes it will be almost impossible for a Bermuda boxer to qualify for the Olympic Games unless more money is pumped into the sport.

Bascome is eligible to try and qualify for next year’s Rio Games, which will be the first to allow professional boxers to compete if they have had fewer than 15 professional bouts.

However, the 24-year-old, who is undefeated in two fights as a professional, believes it would be extremely difficult to reach that level without the funding needed to cover the costs of training and competing overseas.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics, but if there’s no funding or real support behind me then it doesn’t make sense getting all excited about it,” the welterweight said.

“What do you want me to do? Try and qualify for Olympics with no support? No, it don’t work like that.

“You need a support system and a programme and unless the Government is willing to invest in our talent I can’t see anybody qualifying for the Olympics from boxing. That’s just the cold truth.”

Bascome believes the sport has been neglected on the Island for far too long, especially as Bermuda’s only Olympic medal is a bronze won in boxing by Clarence Hill at the 1976 Montreal Games.

“It takes a lot of hard work and you need to be in [the ring] with the best and trained by the best,” Bascome said. “All of this costs money and I don’t see the Government putting any money into the sport.

“I feel that people in Bermuda don’t view boxing as a sport even though Bermuda won its only Olympic medal in boxing.”

Bascome will return to the ring against Pilo Reyes, of Mexico, in a main event bout at The Fairmont Southampton on Saturday, November 7.

In his previous bout, Bascome defeated Claudele Duprier, of the United States, via a third-round knockout at Bermuda College Gym in July.

That bout, however, was not sanctioned by Oscar Lightbourne, Bermuda’s acting boxing commissioner, because Duprier did not make the required weight.

“I feel good and excited about the fight,” Bascome said. “I have been busy training and getting focused on the fight.

“I haven’t seen any footage of [Reyes] yet. But I don’t underestimate anybody, so I’m not taking him lightly.”

Last month, Nathan Dill, the new Bermuda Boxing Federation president, told The Royal Gazette that a national youth programme will be set up as part of its long-term vision of producing international amateur boxers.

The last Bermuda boxer to compete at the Olympics was Quinn Paynter at the 1988 Games in Seoul.