Iwan “Pure Gold” Azore said he aims to exploit a weakness in Nikki Bascome’s technique when the pair meet at the Fairmont Southampton tonight.

Bascome faces his toughest assignment yet when he steps between the ropes against Azore, who at 36 is a decade older than his opponent but has shared the ring with far superior opposition.

Azore admits he knows little about Bascome but does believe there are chinks in his armour after studying footage of the Bermudian’s bouts.

“I’ve watched some of Nikki’s tapes but to be truthful there’s nothing you can really learn because he wasn’t fighting anybody who could really show his mistakes,” said Azore, who arrived in Bermuda yesterday.

“It wasn’t really that interesting to me, although I think there was a little flaw and it’s my plan to take full advantage of it.”

Azore said he was extremely confident and traded barbs with immigration officers at the L.F Wade International Airport who doubted his chances.

“I arrived at the airport and you wouldn’t believe it, I got into a little fight with the immigration officers who were like, ‘Oh, you’re here to fight Nikki Bascome’.

“They didn’t take me off my focus or my game. I told them that I was 100 per cent taking this victory home with me, no ifs or buts about it.”

Although Azore has lost both fights since returning to the ring after four years because of work commitments, one of those losses, a unanimous decision, came against DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley — a former WBO light-welterweight champion. And the Guyanese southpaw believes his experience and craftiness will be too much for the undefeated Bascome in their six-round welterweight bout.

“I’m more experienced that Nikki, but he has a pair of hands just like myself and I respect all fighters no matter what,” said Azore, who has won 16 and drawn three of his 26 bouts.

“I’m approaching this fight very carefully, very cautiously, and I’m confident of executing.”

Azore said he has no concerns about fighting Bascome in his own backyard having fought in Guyana, Trinidad — where he now lives — Jamaica and Canada during a professional career spanning 13 years.

“It’s a challenge but as a boxer there are always hurdles you have to overcome,” he said.

“If you want to be a champion you must be able to fight anybody, anywhere — that’s how you know you will be a true champion.”