James Ali Bashir
| James Ali Bashir | |
|---|---|
| File:JamesAliBashir.jpg James Ali Bashir with Oleksandr Usyk | |
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | Bash |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | 7 August 1951 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
James Ali Bashir is an American boxing trainer. Bashir trained and served as an assistant under legendary trainer Emanuel Steward for 17 years out of the famous Kronk Gym.[1] Bashir has trained notable heavyweights Wladimir Klitschko, Lennox Lewis, Shannon Briggs and Eddie Chambers. Most recently, Bashir trained Oleksandr Usyk to win the undisputed Cruiserweight championship of the World.[2] Bashir is regarded as one of only a handful of tenured “old school” trainers left in professional boxing today.[3]
Life and career
Bashir was born in Newark, New Jersey. After a short amateur boxing career as a fighter, Bashir became a professional boxing trainer in 1975. Bashir started working with undercard boxers in Muhammad Ali’s training camps in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania. Here he trained the likes of Tim Witherspoon (former two time Heavyweight Champion of the World), and Donald Curry (former Welterweight & Jr. Welterweight World Champion).[4]
Bashir was an assistant trainer under Emanuel Steward helping Wladimir Klitschko to successfully defend the Heavyweight Championship of the World, a record 18 consecutive title defenses, behind Joe Louis's 25 consecutive title defenses and Larry Holmes's 20 consecutive title defenses. During this reign in 2013, Boxrec rated Klitschko as the number two pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
In April 2014, during the Klitschko vs. Alex Leapai fight build up, Shannon Briggs crashed the pre-fight press conference and offered Bashir $1 million to jump ship and train him in his upcoming potential fight against Klitschko.[5]
In 2016, after three years together, Bashir as chief head trainer took Oleksandr Usyk to win the WBO Cruiserweight Championship of the World. This bout made history as Usyk would become cruiserweight World Champion in only his 10th professional fight, a new record previously held by Evander Holyfield who accomplished the feat in his 12th pro fight. The two separated after a disagreement in camp between Bashir and Usyk's manager Egis Klimas.
Bashir currently trains decorated Ukrainian heavyweight prospect Vladyslav Sirenko.
Assault incident
On October 4, 2019, at the weigh-in for the Claressa Shields vs. Ivana Habazin World Female Super Welterweight Championship fight, Bashir was brutally assaulted by Shields' brother, Artis Mack.[6] The fight, originally slated for Flint, Michigan was postponed due to Bashir's hospitalization of a brain bleed. Bashir recovered from the incident and alongside Steve Upsher Chambers trained Habazin months later on the rescheduled January 10, 2020 card in Atlantic City.[7] Shields' brother would later take a plea deal pleading guilty on a single count of aggravated assault, and was sentenced to one year in jail.[8]
Fighters trained
Among the world champions and top rated contenders who trained or sought Bashir's guidance at some point of their career were:
Tim Witherspoon- Donald Curry
- Maurice Harris
- Jameel McCline
- Shannon Briggs
- Andre Purlett
- Monte Barrett
Corrie Sanders- Malik Scott
- Matthew Saad Muhammad
Mike McCallum- Eddie Chambers
- Steve Upsher Chambers
- Al Cole
- Jermaine Taylor
Miguel Cotto
Wladimir Klitschko
Lennox Lewis- Oleksandr Usyk
Ivana Habazin- Vladyslav Sirenko
References
- ↑ TMZ Sports (October 4, 2019). "OPPONENT'S TRAINER ATTACKED AT WEIGH-IN... Bloody Chaos Ensues". TMZ. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ↑ Emicus (May 15, 2013). "Sylvana Boxing - Interview with Bashir". Retrieved May 15, 2013.
- ↑ Leon (September 30, 2016). "AFTER 40 YEARS IN THE GAME JAMES ALI BASHIR FINALLY GETS HIS DUE". Retrieved September 30, 2016.
- ↑ Emicus (May 15, 2013). "Sylvana Boxing - Bashir Bio". Retrieved May 15, 2013.
- ↑ Johnstone (April 25, 2014). "Briggs Offers Klitschko's Trainer $1 Million To Jump Ship". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ↑ Songalia (October 4, 2019). "CLARESSA SHIELDS VS. IVANA HABAZIN CANCELED AFTER TRAINER JAMES BASHIR IS ASSAULTED AT WEIGH-IN". Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ↑ Savage (January 9, 2020). "Claressa Shields 'ain't what she tells people she is,' says Ivana Habazin's trainer". Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ↑ Songalia (February 10, 2020). "Claressa Shields' brother takes plea deal in trainer assault case". Retrieved February 10, 2020.
External links
- Kronk Gym
- BoxRec Bio - James Ali Bashir
- James Ali Bashir, the Man Behind the Legendary US Boxing Trainer
James Ali Bashir
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