Showtime IDs Artis Mack, Claressa Shields Brother, as Flint Attacker. Bashir Responds.
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
The police have a suspect in custody. Showtime has gone public, and identified 28-year-old parolee Artis Jacquel Mack, brother of Claressa Shields of Flint, Michigan, as the attacker who sucker-punched Ivana Habazin’s trainer James Ali Bashir in the weigh-in area at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint on Friday, October 4, 2019. Video footage from many sources has a clear image of the attacker, and his unimpeded flight on foot from the scene. No security appeared present when the unprovoked attack occurred. Words were exchanged between Mack, Shield’s sister, and Shields before this all took place. The incident cost Shields a 350 thousand dollar payday. as Habazin, without her trainer, pulled out of the bout, and will return to her native Croatia. Basir had facial reconstructive surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan, and promoter Dmitriy Salita’s team is involved in his medical recovery. Mack’s convictions, according to Michigan Department of Corrections include: three no contest prison sentences for assault with great bodily harm, felony firearms weapons, felony carrying concealed weapons; and probation for second-degree arson. His long list supervision conditions include no violations of criminal law, and may not engage in any behavior that constitutes a violation. These stipulations clearly were violated on Friday, October 4, 2019, at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Michigan. Mack, according to his supervision record, is supposed to be undergoing mental health treatment since being paroled on November 28, 2017. Claressa Shields called the altercation “Inexcusable.”
James Ali Bashir released this statement from his hospital bed: “I am overwhelmed by the tremendous outpouring of support, respect literally from people around the world. I want it said I have not been able to throw a single punch in defense of myself as this fragile little bitch attacked me, clear form behind, knocking me out completely on the spot, and was so desperately trying to get away that he ran right into the arms of a waiting police right outside the venue/ And so, my extent is to pursue this case to the fullest extent of the law. Like I said, I would have gotten more satisfaction out of a good old-fashioned thrown down. I’m so very capable, I would have about my business, ass whipping (loss) or victory. I would have had more respect for this weak adversary if he had (the) testicles to stand up and roll the dice. I’m so sore this time, my cheek on the right side is swollen, my jaw feels like a basketball, my right eye is blurry, and my entire row of top teeth were blown out. I feel as if there are herds of wild horses running around my brain. So this guy is was did inflict some serious damage. Insha Allah, I will overcome it all.” Bashir’s statement reveals he has incurred some serious injuries, and someone is going to have to pay for them. At age 71, we of Real Combat Media pray Bashir makes a full recovery, and justice will eventually be served. He has to be compensated for his injuries, training period, and loss of income.
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