Bermuda’s Nikki Bascome put on a dazzling display of ring craft en route to a unanimous points victory against Joe Marchand-Tipping in an entertaining welterweight bout that lived up to its expectations.

Bascome took early control of the fight and never gave his Canadian opponent a chance.

All three judges had Bascome comfortably ahead in each round and, after the fourth and final round, there was no doubt whose hand the referee would raise in triumph.

Bascome was simply faster with both his feet and hands and his strategy to box and move and work off his jab ultimately took its toll on Marchand-Tipping, who was reduced to chasing ghosts around the ring.

The fight was Bascome’s first as a professional in front of his home fans.

“This was something that I have dreamed about for a long time,” said an elated Bascome, who is undefeated in his first two fights at this level. “I prepared for this and I’m just glad things worked out how I wanted them to.

“I just fed off the energy of the crowd and the main thing was to stay focused and stick to the game plan.”

Bascome stamped his authority on the fight after his rival received a standing eight count in the opening round after being floored by a straight right. After taking early control of proceedings, Bascome continued to dictate the tempo, tagging his opponent with a right hook in the third round that sent him flying into the ropes.

Marchand-Tipping ended the round with some momentum, though, after landing a blow to Bascome’s body.

But the home favourite quickly regained the upper hand in the fourth when his rival received a second standing eight count after being floored by another straight right.

Bascome received a rapturous standing ovation from the crowd and was thoroughly deserving of such plaudits after offering another glimpse of his enormous potential with a silky display that sparkled as brightly as his flashy shorts.

Despite suffering defeat on his professional debut, Marchand-Tipping held his head high.

“We have a saying that ‘you don’t lose, you learn’, and we learned a lot from this fight,” the Canadian said. “It was entertaining and as long as the crowd enjoyed it, I am happy.”