Nikki Bascome, the Bermuda boxer, will begin his path to professional glory next month after finally deciding to leave the amateur ranks.

Bascome, who has not fought since a points victory over Argentina’s Matthew Abregu at Berkeley Institute 12 months ago, will make his debut against an unnamed opponent in a four-round bout on February 22 in Haines City, Florida.

The 23-year-old welterweight believes the time is right for him to become a prizefighter after eight years honing his craft under the tutelage of trainer Allan “Forty” Rego.

“This is new to me, so I’m just trying to take it as it comes and learning as much as I can,” Bascome said.

“[Turning professional] has not been a big transition for me. I’m used to training hard and I know what it takes in terms of the diet and all of that.

“I don’t know [my opponent] at all and I will leave that to my coaches. Once I get my foot in the door, I want to make some money and then get out.”

Despite frustrating periods of inactivity during his undefeated ten-bout amateur career, Bascome said that he always remained steadfast in his commitment to training, regardless of whether there was a bout on the horizon.

He admits he still encounters nerves when he steps between the ropes to face an opponent, but reassures himself with the knowledge that the jitters always vanish as soon as the bell rings for round one. “My time as an amateur was a little frustrating, but I knew my chance would come and I’ve tried not to be in a rush,” Bascome said.

“I’ve had a long wait for fights when nothing really happened and I wasn’t being active, but I’ve always been training. I get nervous — it’s all part of the game —but when you fight it all goes away. I’m eight years in now and I’ve learnt that nerves are temporary; they always go away when the bell goes.”

Trying to emulate Bermuda’s famed pugilists Clarence Hill, Troy Darrell and Teresa Perozzi is an unnecessary pressure that Bascome has made a conscious effort not to place on his young, but deceptively broad, shoulders.

He is determined to name his own name in the notoriously unforgiving world of professional boxing and intends to do things his way.

“I’ve been working on being in control and fighting my fight and not somebody else’s fight,” said Bascome, who regularly analyses footage of his favourite boxers, Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Leonard and Felix Trinidad.

“I’m trying not to get caught up in the [punching] exchanges so much and just focusing on doing what I need to do to win. I’m not trying to be anybody else; I’m just trying to be me. I hope that pays off, and it should, because nobody trains harder than me when I’m getting ready to fight.”

Bascome, who is still undecided on his fight moniker, said it would be a strange sensation to stand in the ring in the absence of the amateur vest and without the relative protection of headgear.

“It’s going to feel a bit different [fighting as a professional],” he said. “It’s your life on the line without the headgear, but I’ll get used to it; I’ll be all right.”