The punching wasn’t saved for Saturday night and has now ultimately cost both fighters their purses and title shot.
Showtime announced the junior middleweight title match between Claressa Shields and Ivana Habazin is off following the latter’s trainer, Bashir Ali, being assaulted at the weigh-in and rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.
Habazin was seen distraught while attempting to help her fallen trainer.
The attacked happened 20 minutes after a heated shouting match between Ali and Shields’s sister. The unidentified suspect was immediately taken into custody. Shields has denied the attack was done by any members of her entourage or family.
Claressa Shields was aiming to make history Saturday night by dropping to 154 pounds and becoming fastest fighter to win titles in three different divisions.
Buzzing prospect Jaron Ennis will now headline the Showtime Championship Boxing card against Demian Fernandez.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 