Nikki Bascome believes stablemate Andre Lambe has made the right decision to remain amateur in a bid to reach the Olympic Games in Toyko in 2020.

Bascome, who trains alongside Lambe at Rego’s Gym in Warwick, still regrets never representing Bermuda at the Olympics.

The welterweight dreamt of reaching the London Games in 2012, but lacked the support and funding required to compete at international regional qualifying tournaments.

“I didn’t get the chance to go to the Olympics and represent my country,” said Bascome, who turned professional in 2014.

“It was a dream of mine to compete at the Olympics, but it didn’t work out and you can’t look back. At the time the Bermuda Boxing Federation was up and down, but now Nathan Dill [the BFF president] is doing a fabulous job and trying to bring boxing back.”

With Dill and his committee reviving the local boxing scene, Bascome feels a support network is now in place for a Bermudian amateur to compete at major international competitions.

“I definitely think [Andre] should pursue that route,” said Bascome, whose only international experience came at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, in 2010.

“I told Andre to just take that opportunity.

“I take all of my experiences as an amateur with me in the pro game.”

Bascome, 27, will look to improve his professional record to eight wins when he faces undefeated Portuguese fighter Fabio Costa in a six-round contest at the Fairmont Southampton next weekend.

Lambe, 22, is featuring on the undercard against another Portuguese pugilist, Jorge Guedes, from the Don Kinguell Academy in Porto.

Both Bascome and Lambe are busy preparing for their bouts at Kissimmee Boxing Gym in Orlando, Florida.

The amateur undercard features several Bermudian boxers taking on Portuguese opponents.

Tyler Christopher, of Rego’s Gym, faces Jose Sousa, Robert Somner, of Controversy Gym, takes on João Azevedo, and Jaylon Roberts, of Rego’s Gym, meets Nuno Santos.