Bermuda boxer Teresa Perozzi's hopes of becoming the Women's Pan-American champion were dashed over the weekend without a punch being thrown.

A combination of events sparked by last Thursday's tropical storm meant that 27-year-old Perozzi didn't arrive at ringside in Scranton, Pennsylvania, until the championships were already underway.

Even then, organisers were willing to let her compete but with her luggage, including gloves and other equipment, having failed to arrive on a connecting flight from Philadelphia, she was forced to pull out.

"It was just a nightmare," said Perozzi, who was already embroiled in controversy after entering the championships without sanction from Bermuda Amateur Boxing Association who believed she wasn't experienced enough for such a challenge.

"Because of the storm, flights were cancelled and we didn't get there until Saturday. We were supposed to have arrived on Thursday.

"Then the flight we did get was running late, our bags didn't come through, our taxi driver got lost. It was just terrible. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong.

"But we actually made it to the venue and they were on the third of eight fights. I would have had time to fight, because somebody had phoned ahead and told organisers of our situation. But we didn't have our gear, and by the time we got it, it was too late."

However, Perozzi, a middleweight who has won all of her three previous fights, believes she could have come away with a title belt having seen the competition she would have faced.

"I think I would have got on very well. In fact, I think I would have won," said Perozzi. "We were told by some of the trainers who saw the condition I was in that I would have done very well in my weight class (165-lbs).

"The girl I was supposed to fight was US national champion but she's not that great, not that experienced. There's just not that many girls in my weight class. They're not conditioned, they're really brawlers, not really boxers which I am.

"So it's very disappointing because I really think I would have won."

However, there is a silver lining for Perozzi who has now been invited to fight at the same venue in the World Women's Championship next month.

"They (the organisers) want me to come. I just have to get sanctioned by the BABA, that's the next step," added Perozzi.

"My trainers (Forty Rego and Troy Darrell) know what I can handle, they know my skills and they're confident. They have between them 60 years of experience. They're not going to put me into a fight that I can't handle and I'm not ready for.

"I know I'm at that level, having seen what I've just seen.

"I just have to convince the BABA."

BABA spokesman Craig Morfitt said before Perozzi's latest trip the Association had been concerned for her safety as they didn't believe she was ready for top competition.

"Ms Perozzi is very much a novice boxer," said Morfitt. "She has competed in three fights and one exhibition match. Each of these fights has been witnessed by at least one member of BABA. We therefore believe we are in a good position to determine her current level of ability. With the exception of the exhibition bout, her fights have been against other novices."