ZCZC
BSP-03
BOX-USA-WOMEN-TRAINER-ASSAULT
US boxing trainer attacked during weigh-in: report
LOS ANGELES, Oct 5, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A prominent US boxing trainer was in
hospital Friday night with head injuries after allegedly being assaulted at a
weigh-in in Flint, Michigan.
James Ali Bashir was punched from behind and knocked unconscious during the
weigh-in at the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center, US media reported.
The TMZ.com website said Michigan police have a suspect in custody but they
did not provide any details.
Bashir was apparently seen arguing with an unidentified person earlier in
the weigh-in.
Bashir is well known in the boxing world, having trained under iconic
trainer Emanuel Steward for close to two decades.
The New Jersey native has worked with boxers like former heavyweight
champion Wladimir Klitschko, Monte Barrett, Shannon Briggs and Jameel
McCline.
Bashir was at the weigh-in with his Croatian boxer Ivana Habazin who was
scheduled to fight Claressa Shields in a female contest on the card.
The Habazin-Shields fight was called off after the incident.
It was not clear if the bout between Shields (9-0, 2 KOs) and Habazin (20-
3, 7 KOs) would be rescheduled.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0907 hrs