Tag: Artis Mack

It looks as if the final sentence in the messy incident involving Claressa Shields’ brother has been delivered.

Artis Mack, 28, was sentenced to one year in jail on an assault charge after punching Habazin trainer James Ali Bashir during a brawl at a weigh-in on Oct. 4, the day before Shields was scheduled to fight Ivana Habazin in Flint, Michigan.

The jail term was the maximum allowed. However, the Genesee District Court credited Mack with 158 days, the time he has already spent in jail, at a hearing Wednesday.

Mack was charged on Oct. 17 with felony assault. He was facing a maximum sentence of 10 years. However, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, a single count of misdemeanor assault, on Feb. 10.

In a message to MLive-The Flint Journal, Habazin expressed anger at the plea deal

“How is it possible that a convicted felon on parole who almost cost my trainer his life, could be given a slap on the wrist for his terrible crime?” she said. “As a citizen of Croatia, I thought there was justice in America. Now I realize the justice system in America is a joke. Shame on the people who are allowing this to happen!”

Bashir was left unconscious and rushed to a nearby emergency room for treatment.

The ugly brawl prompted the cancellation of the Shields-Habazin fight on Showtime. It was subsequently rescheduled for Jan. 10 in Atlantic City. Shields won a unanimous decision for two middleweight belts. With the victory, she also became a three-division champion in only her 10th pro bout.

On the day the sentence was handed down, Showtime announced Shields’ next bout. The two-time Olympic gold medalist (10-0, 2 KOs) is going back down in weight, to junior middleweight, against 154-pound champion Marie-Eve Dicaire (17-0), a Canadian from Quebec, on May 9 in Flint, Shields’ hometown

Claressa Shields had an unusual year in 2019, one marked by both success and tumult.

The two-time Olympic champion started off well, easily outpointing Christina Hammer in a battle of unbeaten middleweights in April. Little did she know that she wouldn’t fight again last year.

She was scheduled to make her 154-pound debut against her Croatian rival in August but the fight was postponed after Shields was injured. Then the fight, rescheduled for Oct. 5, was canceled after Habazin’s 68-year-old trainer James Ali Bashir was attacked at the weigh-in the day before the fight. Shields’ brother Artis J. Mack was later arrested on assault charges.

Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs) still wanted the fight, however. So here are again: The two are scheduled to fight on Jan. 10 at Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City on Showtime.

Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) is eager to have a big 2020.

“I really have just one main resolution for the new year – no compromising,” Shields said. “That goes for both my personal and professional life. I also want to get closer to God and stay undefeated. I was going to say stop cursing also, but that’s just not happening.”

Shields, who trains with coach John David Jackson in Miami, evidently has not compromised on her conditioning.

She has remained active in spite of what amounts to two postponements leading up to Jan. 10. That included not going home to Flint, Michigan, for the holidays. Her focus has been on maintaining her dominance in the ring.

“I made 154 pounds back in October before the cancellation,” said Shields. “After our fight was cancelled, I stayed active and only put on about 10 pounds. I’ve been down in Florida for the last six or seven weeks. It’s been hard work. I’ve pushed myself and I’m not taking Habazin lightly. I want the knockout because Ivana talks too much. I’m staying focused on being focused, and not letting anyone throw me off by talking nonsense.

“I don’t eat meat anymore. I haven’t in over three months, so my body is more toned now. I actually have a six-pack already with just a little more weight to lose. I think people are going to be surprised at the 154-pound version of me. I’m going to be very strong and very fast because I’ve basically had five months to prepare and to get ready for her specifically.”

And she doesn’t regret her decision to stay in Florida during the holidays.

“I saved a lot of money by not going home for Christmas, that’s for sure,” he said. “But I still spoke with all my family and connected with everyone. I have a very strict diet in camp and I actually trained on Christmas. I consider my diet more of a life plan in general, and I have my days where I’ll splurge, but I stay disciplined.”

That’s one reason she has been so successful.