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Mayweather: Bascome has to fight own fight

Team effort: Nikki Bascome, centre, attends a media workout at Aries Sports Centre with coaches Anthony Stoneham, left, and Jeff Mayweather. The Bermudian fights England’s Ryan Oliver, below, in the main event in Fight Night Champion at the Fairmont Southampton tomorrow night(Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

?Jeff Mayweather believes it is imperative Nikki Bascome avoids getting dragged into a tear up against Ryan Oliver when they meet in the main event at the Fairmont Southampton tomorrow night.

Mayweather has reiterated the importance of Bascome fighting to his strengths and is confident he has the superior skills and ringcraft to overcome his English opponent in their eight-round contest.

Bascome returned to the fabled Mayweather Boxing Club to prepare for Oliver, using “high-quality” sparring partners, leaving Mayweather in no doubt his fighter is ready for his next assignment.

“Nikki knows he’s got a tough fight in front of him and he’s ready,” Mayweather, the uncle of Floyd, said.

“It’s important he fights his own fight because if you fight somebody else’s fight, you’ve already lost.

“I’ve been training Nikki for over a year. Every time he has a fight coming up he comes out to Vegas and does a training camp there. He’s been working hard.

“Down there, we have quality sparring. It’s probably much better than the guy he is fighting and he held his own against everyone.”

Mayweather revealed he primarily focused on sharpening Bascome’s weapons during his four-week camp in Las Vegas and has backed the Bermudian to show the required discipline to execute his game plan.

“That’s my job, basically to fine-tune everything, the things he might be a little short on and sharpen him up. We have a game plan and hopefully on fight night Nikki executes it. If he does, he’ll win. Nikki is a good fighter, he’s got good hand speed and power.

“The only problem is that sometimes he does the same thing [too much]. If he does the things we’ve worked on, he’ll get the win.

Mayweather was in Bascome’s corner when he won the vacant IBF international welterweight title against Mexican David Martínez at the Fairmont Southampton in November 2018 and expects an equally enthralling contest against Oliver.

“I’m expecting a great performance from Nikki,” said Mayweather, a former IBO super-featherweight world champion.

“I don’t really know Ryan, but he seems like a nice guy and hopefully he brings his ‘A’ game. I think it’s going to be great fight for both guys.”

Oliver warmed up for the bout with a points win over journeyman William Warburton in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, last month.

The 25-year-old, who has lost one of his eight bouts, has one stoppage on his résumé, a first-round knockout against MJ Hall in Middleton, Rochdale, in June 2018.

He will meet Bascome at a catchweight of 144 pounds, with the weigh-in taking place at the Fairmont Southampton at 6pm tonight.

Meanwhile, Lambe, Bascome’s stablemate at Forty Rego’s Gym, and Michael Parsons will both make their professional debuts against Canadian opposition on the undercard.

Lambe has been pitted against Mat Hinchey, while Parsons, of Controversy Gym, will take on Daniel Roach.