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Boxing bout cancelled after trainer cops sickening sucker punch

The Associated Press

Claressa Shields' long-awaited fight in her hometown has been called off after her opponent's trainer was injured in an altercation before the weigh-in.

Shields was supposed to fight Ivana Habazin of Croatia on Saturday night, but that bout was called off after Habazin's trainer was hospitalised after Friday's incident.

Salita Promotions said the remainder of the event would go on as scheduled, and Showtime would televise a two-fight card.

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It was supposed to be Shields' first pro fight in her hometown of Flint.

Bashir Ali, Habazin’s trainer, was allegedly assaulted at a media conference.
Bashir Ali, Habazin’s trainer, was allegedly assaulted before the fight between Claressa Shields and Ivana Habazin.(Getty Images)

The two-time Olympic champion has won titles at the super middleweight level, and she unified the middleweight belts with a victory over previously unbeaten Christina Hammer in April.

She took this fight at 154 pounds, trying to become a three-division champion.

“I had to lose a lot of weight for this fight, because I cleaned out the division at 160,” Shields said earlier this week.

“Every time I clean out the division, somebody else trying to tell me I'm not the greatest woman of all-time, and I love when they say that because, I want you to come show me I'm not the greatest woman of all-time.”

Ivana Habazin of Croatia talks to the media with her trainer Bashir Ali during a pre fight workout at Downtown Boxing Gym on October 02, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Ivana Habazin of Croatia talks to the media with her trainer Bashir Ali during a pre fight workout at Downtown Boxing Gym on October 02, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Habazin (20-3) was supposed to make her US debut, but now that won't be happening this weekend.

The Shields-Habazin fight was initially scheduled for Aug. 17, but it had to be postponed because of an injury to Shields.

The Showtime telecast is still set to include heavyweight Jermaine Franklin (19-0) of Saginaw, Michigan, against Pavel Sour (11-1) of the Czech Republic; and welterweight Jaron Ennis (23-0) of Philadelphia against Demian Daniel Fernandez (12-1) of Argentina.