Ivana Habazin is in shock and very upset with Claressa Shields and her team. Boxing Scene ( an online boxing news site) was the first to report the following quotes released by Habazin:

“With deep regret my trainer James Ali Bashir was punched in the back of his neck by someone in Shields entourage. Bashir was taken to a local hospital and has now been moved to Henry Ford Hospital because delicate facial reconstruction surgery must be performed. I want to say that security was nowhere to be found. Club shows are run better than this organization.”

“Claressa has a big mouth and the people around her like Claressa are always looking for trouble. Claressa and her team are classless. During the pre weigh-in my coach wanted to look at Claressa’s weight and her sister and Bashir exchanged words. Her family and friends should have never been allowed on the stage.”

“As we were leaving the area, someone from her camp attacked my coach and sucker punched him. Bashir hit the floor face first and was bleeding and unconscious. The attacker quickly ran out of the building. Right now it’s about 10 PM and I’m in still in the hospital. My immediate concern is to look after the well being of my coach. I think most people with a heart would do the same.”

“We have been receiving threats and people are saying I am scared to fight because Claressa is going to beat my ass. We don’t feel safe here. To Claressa I have this message for you. You can run your filthy mouth all you want. When my trainer recovers it will be just you and me in the ring. I want to see how tough you are when the thugs you hang out with aren’t there to help you. You’re going to find out just how scared I am of a classless fighter like you. Our day will come Claressa!”

The above Content is courtesy of Boxing Scene.

Here’s the Original Boxing Action Magazine Article:

FACE OF WOMEN’S BOXING NEEDS TO DO SOME “SOUL SEARCHING”

The October 4th/ 5th Weekend was packed with Action News regarding Middleweight Boxing Champion Claressa Shields. The problem is Woman’s boxing got the attention for all the wrong reasons – And not the Match.

The Past:

There has been countless articles and coverage of the tremendous & record breaking boxer Shields is. One can easily make the argument that she is the Michael Jordan of Female Boxing. Just as astonishing as her career accomplishments are, the best in ring performances/ dominance are still to come, as Shields is just reaching her prime.

Many fans have a love / hate relationship when it comes to Shields success as she is not afraid to voice her opinions about her opponents but also about herself. Many would like to see he lose so she can pipe down.

The Weekend:

This weekend only added more fuel to the fire and many fans are now saying, “I told you so”.

Not only has she cemented some people’s opinion of her, but unfortunately it has left some of her biggest fans and supporters questioning their loyalty.

What happened:

After talking smack about her opponent and her opponents trainer, Friday, October 4th, moments before the fighters weighed-in, Shields sister steered things up by running her mouth and possibly her brother punched and knocked out Habazin’s trainer, James Ali Bashir.

After running of, police where about to find and arrest him. Bashir was rushed to the hospital after being knocked out cold for emergency surgery and Habazin canceled the fight in respect of her trainer & concern for his health.

Shields Statements:

After the incident, Shields claimed that she didn’t see what happened yet knew everything Bashir was saying.

Shields said that no one from her group where involved in what happened.

Shields claims “he” kind of deserved it.

Shields said that it wasn’t a big deal and that Habazin should “fly another trainer in” because he’s not the one fighting in the ring.

The Shields Camp wanted the fight so badly that they kept on insisting that the fight could always be salvaged if Habazin wants it.

The Outcome:

In a disgusting and despicable action, we never heard the word sorry.

Showtime Champion Boxing was left out to dry.

Flint was left out to dry as very few media members will have any interest – anytime soon with a Shields Homecoming Fight.

Not only the face of boxing, but the planned athlete to take Female Boxing to the next level for the foreseeable future made a big error in judgement.

Claressa Shields Damage Control Roll-Out:

Mark Taffet ( Shields Manager) has now gone into full damage control with two main objectives.

1. Rewrite the history of this catastrophe as a “freak accident”, an “Isolated incident” that was out of Claressa Shields Control.
2. Turn people’s opinion of Shields to a more positive manner by having her erase her previous statements ( by not talking about them anymore) and deleting as much of what she said after the incident as possible.

The main focal point of Taffet’s Goal is to now have Shields reach out to every outlet claiming:

1. She doesn’t condone violence
2. She is very disappointed in what happened at the Weight-in
3. She 100% agrees with her opponents decision not to fight
4. She plans on visiting Bashir in the hospital
5. She deeply cares for Bashir and his health.
6. She is just as disappointed in what happened as anyone.

Final Thoughts:

I would like to believe that everything that Shields is currently saying and headlining is not only for her Marketing/ Career.

Maybe after a little Soul searching, this sad and embarrassing incident, will make Shields better and lead her to an even better projected career.

At some point, if Claressa Shields feels that mistakes have been made, she might mention / address her family members that caused this and talk about what they are doing to improve there character & community.

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Trapp/ Showtime Championship Boxing