Claressa Shields’ brother pleads guilty to aggravated assault

An ugly incident in 2019 moved closer to a legal resolution Monday.

Artis Mack, Claressa Shields’ brother, pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated assault for his role in a brawl at an Oct. 4 weigh-in before a scheduled fight between Shields and Ivana Habazin in Flint, Mich.

Mack was originally charged with one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. He reached a plea deal Monday at Genesee District Court, reducing the charge to a misdemeanor.

Mack, 28, is accused of punching Habazin trainer James Ali Bashir at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Shields’ hometown. Bashir suffered serious head injuries from what witnesses said was “a sucker-punch’’ thrown by Mack.

Mack, who faces up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10.

“It was bad for the city, bad for his sister and certainly bad for everybody involved,’’ Mack attorney Frank Manley said. “Hopefully, this will put an end to it.’’

Because of injuries to Bashir, Habazin (20-4, 7 KOs), of Croatia, refused to fight on the Showtime-televised card on Oct. 5. The bout was rescheduled for Jan. 10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Shields (10-0, 2 KOs) won a one-sided decision, becoming a three-division champion in only her 10th pro bout.