News Flash: Sucker Punch at Weigh-in Sinks Shields-Habazin Clash

[ArneK.]

Claressa Shields, considered the most dominant female fighter in the world, was scheduled to fight Croatia's Ivana Habazin tomorrow, Oct. 5, for the vacant WBC/WBO 154-pound title live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). The latest news coming out of Flint, Michigan, Shields' hometown and the site of tomorrow's event, is that the fight is off because of an incident at today's weigh-in.

According to various sources, Habazin's trainer Bashir Ali (aka James Ali Bashir) got into an argument with a member of Shields' entourage as the scales were being prepared for the weigh-in. Before the actual weight-in, he was sucker punched, hit from behind with such force that he was knocked unconscious. The person with whom Bashir Ali was arguing was said to be female. The person that attacked him was male.

When her trainer hit the floor, Habazin rushed to his aid, sobbing. He was conscious when he was removed to a hospital on a stretcher where he reportedly was scheduled for facial surgery. A clearly distraught Habazin accompanied him. The police reportedly took a suspect into custody but did not name him.

Mark Taffet, Shields' manager, hopeful that the bout could be salvaged, made this statement to the assembled media: "As long as we make sure her trainer is OK and Ivana is in a good frame of mind, we'll expect the weigh-in to take place later and look forward to everything going forward."

A later tweet from ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. said the fight was OFF. The new main event, originally the semi-main, pits Jaron "Boots" Ennis (23-0, 21 KOs) against Argentina's Demian Daniel Fernandez (12-1, 9 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight contest. Also on the TV portion of the show is 10-round heavyweight match between Jermaine Franklin (19-0, 13 KOs) and Pavel Sour (11-1, 6 KOs), a little-known, 36-year-old Czech.

The weigh-ins for those fights went on as scheduled without incident.

Bashir Ali (pictured in this 2018 photo with Ukrainian heavyweight Vlad Sirenko) spent 17 years as an assistant to Emanuel Steward at Detroit's fabled Kronk Gym. Before that, he was a member of Muhammad Ali's team at Ali's training camp in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania. Originally from New Jersey, he is a man in his 70s.




A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) was looking to win a world title in a third weight division after previously winning 168- and 160-pound belts. Habazin (20-3, 7 KOs) suffered all three of her losses in fights sanctioned for world titles, losing to Serbia's Eva Bajic, Norway's Cecilia Braekhus, and Sweden's Mikaela Lauren.

We will have further details as they develop.

Photo credit: Jake May, M Live

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel

[KO Digest]

Wow that's low class. Poor Bash. In 2005, I was in Atlanta George USA for some business seminar and I was on the train with a co-worker. A man overheard us talking about boxing, said he once was one, and he asked me if I knew who he was. I told him I didn't recognize him but that if he gave me some hints that I was sure I could figure it out. He told me he was a cruiserweight who once fought a Matinee Idol in 1991. Since I knew that was Bobby Czyz, I knew the man on the train was Bash Ali! We talked boxing until he got off at his stop but not before he told us he was coming back to fight at heavyweight. Luckily that never happened. But now it looks like he was practically killed by Ivan Drago and that's a girl Rocky? We can all change?

[Kid Blast]

They have a suspect. Bash got beat up pretty badly and will require surgery. You simply do not hit a 64-year-old and you simply do not even think about sucker punching anyone. This is a disgrace. Those responsible must be held accountable.For what it's worth, Bash was a pretty decent fighter in his day and fought stiff opposition in his prime. He also was and possibly still is a tad eccentric.

[ArneK.]

Hey Fellows, I believe you are confusing Bash Ali, a fighter born in Nigeria, with the trainer who got whacked today who is Bashir Ali, an older fellow, more often called James Ali Bashir.

[Kid Blast]

Thanks. ........................

[KO Digest]

I'm no DA but I theorize a Team Shields member did the deed.

[Kid Blast]

Try Shield's brother, Artis Mack. A convicted felon

[ArneK.]

The perpetrator -- who has yet to be identified -- was said to be a member of Shields' entourage (ya think). The venue holds 5,500 with standing room and yesterday it was reported that the show was a near-sellout. I'm guessing that thousands of ticket-buyers will be seeking a refund.

I feel sorry for promoter Dmitriy Salita who has been working his tail off to revive pro boxing in Michigan.

I feel less sorry for Shields' manager Mark Taffet who talks about Shields as if she will go down as one of the great women in history -- right there alongside Joan of Arc, Florence Nightingale, Queen Victoria, etc. Ugh.

[Kid Blast]

Ugh! Hahahahahahahah

[Kid Blast]

The perpetrator -- who has yet to be identified -- was said to be a member of Shields' entourage (ya think). The venue holds 5,500 with standing room and yesterday it was reported that the show was a near-sellout. I'm guessing that thousands of ticket-buyers will be seeking a refund.

I feel sorry for promoter Dmitriy Salita who has been working his tail off to revive pro boxing in Michigan.

I feel less sorry for Shields' manager Mark Taffet who talks about Shields as if she will go down as one of the great women in history -- right there alongside Joan of Arc, Florence Nightingale, Queen Victoria, etc. Ugh.

Come on, That's Mark's job. He's a good guy. BUT, it now appears that Shields brother did the assault. Horrible look for Team Shields. Not a nice bunch of people. Thuggery has no place in boxing.

It reminded me of Richard Grant being sIt reminded me of Richard Grant being sucker punched by the Harlem Hammer. Ugh. Also, Leon Lawson Jr., the uncle and trainer of Andre Dirrell, did something similar when he clocked Jose Uzcategui in 2017.ucker punched by the Harlem Hammer. Ugh. Also, Leon Lawson Jr., the uncle and trainer of Andre Dirrell, did something similar when he clocked Jose Uzcategui in 2017.

[Kid Blast]

It reminded me of Richard Grant being sucker punched by the Harlem Hammer. Ugh. Also, Leon Lawson Jr., the uncle and trainer of Andre Dirrell, did something similar when he clocked Jose Uzcategui in 2017.

[KO Digest]

Nobody is really too surprised though are they?

We all know Shields is thuggy. So must her "team" be.

[Kid Blast]

Well, "her" official statement should put things to rest insofar as she is concerned. Who ever wrote it is a word magician.

While attempted manslaughter is somewhat of an oxymoron, I think that is what this was. imo, of course

[KO Digest]

So gross.

It was Shields' brother who beat up an old man because their LGBTQSTD sister is in the gay mafia and was mouthing off about whatever to a trainer. Must be the water in Flint.

[Kid Blast]

Yes The water played a role in this one. Very sick saga.

[ArneK.]

LGBTQSTD ??? Alphabet soup of a different kind.

[KO Digest]

Giving new meaning to the term "Gay Bashing" 😎

[Kid Blast]

oh oh. https://3kingsboxing.com/bashir-readmitted-hospital/