Chioke Tucker, the Bermuda boxer, has vowed to “take care of business” when he makes his long-awaited professional debut against Martello Jones in a superheavyweight bout at The Fairmont Southampton on Friday.

Tucker, who spent eight years training in England and the United States, will be stepping between the ropes for the first time in Bermuda, where he has not even fought as an amateur, and admitted that he is anxious to put on an eye-catching show for the home crowd.

The 34-year-old had been scheduled to make his home debut in an amateur bout at BAA Gymnasium in May but his opponent Leo Richardson, of Controversy Gym, withdraw at the eleventh hour.

“This fight is long overdue for me and I’m concentrating on getting the job done before I start planning anything else,” said Tucker, who will meet Jones in a four-round bout.

“It’s frustrating because I’ve been waiting for quite a while [to fight in Bermuda] and I’ve been let down a few times.

“I’ve had so much experience of boxing overseas, so it’s kind of strange that I’ve never fought here.

“I’m feeling more anxious than I would if I was boxing overseas because there’s more pressure on me to perform in front of my own people.”

Tucker’s opponent, Jones, who is based in Ontario, Canada, is no stranger to the Island having defeated Bermuda’s Jermal Woolridge in a kickboxing bout at Berkeley Institute in February, 2012.

Both boxers will be making their professional debuts on the undercard of Teresa Perozzi’s IBA world middleweight title defence against American Kali Reis.

“I don’t know very much about [Jones] and I’m not really focusing too much on him,” said Tucker, who trains at Allan “Forty” Rego’s boxing gym in Warwick.

“I took a glimpse of his [kickboxing] fights online but I’m just concentrating on what I need to do.

“I’m confident in my ability and I’m ready to take care of business on Friday night.”

Despite a lack of sparring because of a dearth of heavyweight boxers in Bermuda, Tucker insisted that he was “fighting fit” after shedding about 20 pounds during his training camp.

“Being a small heavyweight I can never allow my myself to go under 200 pounds,” said Tucker, who has been working with Troy Darrell, a former top middleweight, and Clarence Hill, the Island’s only Olympic medallist.

“[Jones] is a little taller than me but he’s not much bigger in the body. Besides, I’m used to fighting guys who are 20 or 30 pounds heavier than me and five inches taller.”

Although he will be making his professional debut, Tucker insisted that he has been training with a “pro mentality” for many years alongside tough-as-teak boxers, particularly during his years living in London.

“I was groomed alongside professionals straight out of the amateur game and have sparred with world champions, guys who were fighting on television for big money. I didn’t have the backing of some of those guys but I’ve always had the skills.”

Also boxing on the undercard will be Nikki Bascome, Tucker’s stablemate at Rego’s Gym.

Bascome will be making his home debut as a professional against Kru Joe Marchand-Tipping, who trains at the same gym as Jamaican Jones, the MAS Academy of Martial Arts, in a four-round junior middleweight bout.

Tucker added that he was thrilled to be boxing on such a mouth-watering card.

“All three professional fighters in Bermuda will be in action and it’s been many years since we had boxing like this,” he said.

“We’re really trying to reignite the sport and the public will definitely get their money’s worth.”

Tickets can be purchased at the International Sports Shop, Beyond Fitness or PTIX.BM. Ringside tickets are $100, general admission is $65.