For years, Toriano Nicholas has been waiting to get a shot at the Wray and Nephew Contender boxing series.

Now that the long wait is over, the Team Jamaica fighter will be looking to mix his boxing skills with solid defence to beat Team Canada’s Dave Leblond, when they meet in the feature bout of the 2018 series at the Chinese Benevolent Association, Old Hope Road, today.

The fight will be broadcast live on TVJ, beginning at 9:30 pm.

“My biggest motivation for the Contender boxing series is I’ve been looking to enter for four years now and I’ve finally got the chance. I’m here to show my talent and what I’ve got to offer,” said Nicholas, who turned pro in 2010.

“I think I’ve a very good chance of winning; I’ve got speed, I’ve got movement,” he added.

Nicholas, with a 1-1-1 record, has fought thrice since making his pro debut in the Cayman Islands in 2015. He has trended upwards from a narrow loss (38-38, 37-39, 37-39 score) against Quincy Gomes in Georgetown, Guyana, to draw in April 2016 with Bahamian Lester Brown in Nassau, before winning by unanimous decision over Daron Weir at Alpart, St Elizabeth, in October last year.

Leblond, who was born in Quebec, has won two and lost four of his six fights in the professional ranks. Three of his losses have come in his last three fights.

The Canadian debuted in the Contender 2017 Series and after a controversial first-round loss to Tsetsi Davis, he got a second chance and progressed when Nico Yeyo was disqualified. However, he was stopped by fellow countryman, the hard-hitting Phil Rose, in his next appearance.

Nicholas, recalling deficiencies shown by Leblond against Davis, is optimistic he will extend Jamaica’s dominance in the series. In four of the five previous bouts, Jamaicans have won.

“I’m very confident I’m going to win this fight,” he declared. “I’m in excellent shape right now; I’m in shape to fight five to six rounds.

“I know it’s going to be an interesting fight because he’s going to come hard. But he’s got to have the mindset, skill and rhythm to try and beat me. He has speed, but does he have defence, lateral movement or anything else? Because if he doesn’t he can’t beat me.”

Nicholas reflected: “I saw him against Tsetsi. He throws a lot of punches … but like I said, he’s always open. As long as I’ve my defence right he can’t beat me.”

Both fighters have a couple things in common, as they have generally competed as lightweights and had to put on weight to qualify for this welterweight series and they average nearly five rounds per fight. Nicholas has gone 14 rounds in three bouts, while Leblond numbered 29 in six fights.

“As a lightweight fighter I had to put on a lot of weight for this Contender series. I know they’re stronger and used to fighting at this higher weight division than me. However, the unpredictable kid will be in full effect coming at them,” said Nicholas.

“From what I’ve seen, most of the boxers fight one style… but I can change up my style, so if they’re not used to that it’s going to give them real problems,” he added.