Tag: james ali bashir

Claressa Shields’ brother sentenced to one year for weigh-in punch

Artis Mack, Claressa Shields’ brother, was sentenced to one year in jail on for assault after punching trainer James Ali Bashir on Oct. 4

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’ brother pleads guilty to aggravated assault

Artis Mack, Claressa Shields’ brother, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for his role in a brawl at an Oct. 4 weigh-in in Flint, Mich.

An ugly incident in 2019 moved closer to a legal resolution Monday.

Artis Mack, Claressa Shields’ brother, pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated assault for his role in a brawl at an Oct. 4 weigh-in before a scheduled fight between Shields and Ivana Habazin in Flint, Mich.

Mack was originally charged with one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. He reached a plea deal Monday at Genesee District Court, reducing the charge to a misdemeanor.

Mack, 28, is accused of punching Habazin trainer James Ali Bashir at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Shields’ hometown. Bashir suffered serious head injuries from what witnesses said was “a sucker-punch’’ thrown by Mack.

Mack, who faces up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10.

“It was bad for the city, bad for his sister and certainly bad for everybody involved,’’ Mack attorney Frank Manley said. “Hopefully, this will put an end to it.’’

Because of injuries to Bashir, Habazin (20-4, 7 KOs), of Croatia, refused to fight on the Showtime-televised card on Oct. 5. The bout was rescheduled for Jan. 10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Shields (10-0, 2 KOs) won a one-sided decision, becoming a three-division champion in only her 10th pro bout.

Claressa Shields makes history with near shutout of Ivana Habazin

Claressa Shields defeated Ivana Habazin by a near-shutout 10-round decision to win major titles in a third weight division Friday night.

Claressa Shields has accomplished a great deal in 10 professional fights.

The two-time Olympic champion defeated Ivana Habazin by a near-shutout 10-round decision to win major titles in a third weight division – junior middleweight – Friday night at Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Shields became the fastest to become a three-division champion. Vasiliy Lomachenko did it in 12 fights.

She had previously won titles at super middleweight and then middleweight before moving down to junior middleweight. She still holds the 160-pound title.

“This feels great. I did it in 10 fights,” Shields said. “Now I’m No. 1, the fastest boxer in history to become a three-division world champion.”

Three-division champion Claressa Shields seemingly makes history every time she fights. AP Photo / Matt Rourke

The matchup had generated a lot of attention for the wrong reasons.

Shields (10-0, 2 KOs) 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 bout, 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.

Once the fighters stepped into the ring, however, it wasn’t much of a contest. Shields outboxed, outworked and generally had her way with Habazin (20-4, 7 KOs) from the opening bell.

In the sixth round, a left hook to the body put Habazin down. She was able to get up and continue but, as in the rest of the fight, she landed punches too infrequently to make the fight competitive. She landed only 49 total shots, less than five per round, according to CompuBox.

The judges scored it 100-90, 99-89 and 100-89.

“I just want to become a better fighter,” Shields said. “That’s all. I want to grow women’s boxing. I want to share a card with Deontay Wilder and Errol Spence. Andre Ward said, ‘Sis, take her to the body.’ I was throwing all body shots in the first minute and then boom, she went down.”

Shields has said she plans to give Mixed Martial Arts a try. She might as well. It seems no one in boxing can give her a fight.

In a preliminary bout, rising young welterweight star Jaron Ennis (25-0, 22 KOs) stopped an overmatched Bakhtiyar Eyubov (14-2-1, 12 KOs) 34 seconds into the fourth round of a scheduled 10-round fight.

Ennis battered Eyubov in the opening round, putting the Houston-based Kazakhstani down twice, and never let up. The Philadelphian was pounding his helpless prey when the referee finally decided that he had taken enough punishment and stopped the fight.

Some thought this would be Ennis’ biggest test. If that was a test, the other 147-pounders should be on notice.

Claressa Shields plans to turn a page against Ivana Habazin

Claressa Shields said people will forget about Ivana Habazin after she knocks out the Croatian on Friday in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Claressa Shields is fighting to move on. Fighting to forget, too.

Shields gets that chance Friday against Ivana Habazin in a junior middleweight bout that was rescheduled after a brawl as ugly as any in 2019 at a weigh-in on Oct. 4, the day before they were supposed to fight in Flint, Michigan, Shields’ hometown.

Four months later, they have moved on to a new day and a new zip code, Atlantic City, New Jersey. They fight on Showtime.

“Everyone who was in Flint and knows about the incident that happened knows it’s not something I have a history of doing,’’ Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) said Tuesday at news conference in New York. “I don’t do stuff outside the ring.’’

But the memory of that brawl lingers. Hard feelings remain. Habazin’s manager and trainer, 68-year-old James Ali Bashir, was seriously injured by a reported sucker punch. He underwent surgery for facial fractures. Shields’ brother, Artis Mack, was charged with assault.

“I’ve been thinking about this since October and I have more of an incentive now given what happened,” Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs) said. “I feel like I’m fighting for James Ali Bashir, as well as for my own pride and respect. I’m also fighting for my country. I want to make Croatia proud that I am their daughter, and I feel that I now have their full support.’’

There’s also incentive for Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who has never been shy about what she thinks of herself or her opposition. She called herself the GWOAT – the greatest woman of all time – on Tuesday. She also expressed her contempt for Habazin.

“One of the things she said that was really disrespectful was that I didn’t make weight for October 4,’’ Shields said.  “Don’t believe the lies. I made 154 pounds and I’m going to be a three-division world champion come Friday. Ivana doesn’t stand a chance.

“I’m sorry, I’m just going to keep it real. She’s not as skilled as Christina Hammer. She worked her way up, but once a quitter, always a quitter.

“Once the fight is over, she’s going to be a blast from the past. They won’t be talking about the incident in Flint. They may remember it, but her? They won’t even remember her name after I beat her down on Friday.”

Claressa Shields fit, focused going into Ivana Habazin fight

Claressa Shields has remained fit in spite of two postponements leading up to her showdown with Ivana Habazin on Jan. 20.

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.

Claressa Shields (left) and Ivana Habazin are pictured at a news conference last August. They’ll finally fight on Jan. 10. AP Photo / Carlos Osorio

“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.

Claressa Shields-Ivana Habazin fight rescheduled for Jan. 10

Claressa Shields and Ivana Habazin will fight on Jan. 10, nearly three months after Habazin’s trainer was injured in a weigh-in altercation.

Claressa Shields and Ivana Habazin will fight on Jan. 10 in Atlantic City, nearly three months after their scheduled matchup was canceled following a violent altercation at the weigh-in.

The bout had been scheduled for Oct. 5 in Flint, Michigan, Shields’ hometown, but it was pulled off a Showtime-televised card after Habazin trainer James Ali Bashir was injured by punches on the day before opening bell.

Bashir was hospitalized with reported facial fractures. A few days after the incident, he returned to the hospital with a brain bleed, according to a Facebook post from Habazin.

Artis Mack, Shields’ brother, was arraigned on an assault charge in Michigan’s Genesee District Court on October 17 for allegedly throwing the punches. Mack, 28, pleaded not guilty.

Shields (9-0, 2 knockouts), a two-time Olympic gold medalist, hoped that the junior middleweight fight would be rescheduled. She and Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs), of Croatia, were initially scheduled to meet on August 17. That date was shelved when Shields suffered a knee injury.

James Ali Bashir was hospitalized as a result of punches he took at the Claressa Shields-Ivana Habizin weigh-in last month. Stephanie Trapp / Showtime

“My goal is to become three-division champ faster than any man or woman in history,” said Shields, who already has won middleweight and super-middleweight belts. “This is a very significant fight for both of us. We have both trained really hard twice and great opportunities await the winner, so hopefully three times is the charm.”

Habazin says she is motivated for the fight because of what happened in Flint.

“I’ve been thinking about this since October, and I have more of an incentive now, given what happened,” Habazin said. “I feel like I’m fighting for James Ali Bashir, as well as for my own pride and respect.’’