Kinahan Banned From U.S. Due To Gang Ties
If Daniel Kinahan wants to get his hands in the boxing business, he will have to test his luck elsewhere when it comes to the United States. In the wake of the reveal that Kinahan is a special advisor to the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, a boxing license will not be granted to him.
The KOCB is one of the most well-known narcotics groups in Europe and America. They have had dealings with athletes before, as a relative of a top soccer star was involved in laundering cash. Kinahan recently signed a deal with MTK Global, where fights can be viewed in Dubai, an area where he recently fled to. In a release, Kinahan stated the following:
“This is a monumental move for KHK Sports and MTK Global. Both organizations have been making substantial waves in the international combats sports landscape and combined, the sky is the limit in what they can achieve.
Kinahan is looking to be a boxing promoter. Top Rank’s Bob Arum endorsed Kinahan, as he was one of the top people looking to secure a fight in Saudi Arabia between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. Kinahan has also helped Arum when it comes to putting on fights for Michael Conlan of Ireland. Many of his fights when he comes home or comes to New York have resulted in rave reviews.
When questioned by The Sun on his connection with Kinahan, Arum shrugged it off. Kinahan wasn’t doing anything immoral with Arum, he stated.
“I’m not naive. I was a federal prosecutor myself,” Arum said. “I’m saying I can disregard all of that stuff. It doesn’t affect me. It hasn’t affected me. When it does, I’ll have to deal with it. But right now, I have absolutely no involvement with the Irish authorities. Nobody has come to me, nobody has questioned me.”
“So my philosophy is, ‘Stick to your business son’ — meaning me. Stick to your business and don’t be distracted by the background noises.”
There have been controversies with his involvement with MTK Global. In 2016 there was a shooting at the Regency Hotel in Dublin before a fight night. It appeared to have been an attempted hit on Kinahan, according to Boxing Scene, as a result of the longstanding rivalry between the Kinahan and Hutch crime families. The war has been going on for years, traveling through Ireland and Spain.
MTK Global, which was known as MGM with Kinahan as a head, ended up having to come out and talk about the connection they have with Kinahan. He is not on the payroll it appears, and Arum and several within MTK have called Kinahan an honorable man.
“Everyone knows, legally and legitimately, I purchased the business from Matthew Macklin in 2017,” Sandra Vaughan, CEO of MTK Global told IFL TV, via Boxing Scene. “There are no ties to Daniel Kinahan, there was no contract or financial transaction, absolutely nothing. He hasn’t got anything to do with MTK Global. We manage fighters, that’s our role.”
KHK Sports has invested in soccer, wrestling, and cricket organizations in the past. The venture with boxing would include a deal with U.S.-based ESPN. A United States investigator ended up telling The Sun:
“The name of Daniel Kinahan is known to law enforcement agencies all over the world thanks to the murderous activities of the Kinahan cartel. They are operating on a global scale and their members and associates will not be admitted to the United States.
“Mr. Kinahan might not have any convictions but he’s been named in various jurisdictions because of his connections to organized crime. If he’s brave enough to apply for an ESTA he will be turned down. He may claim to be a legitimate businessman promoting fights but he won’t be stepping on US soil anytime soon.”
If the venture does go through outside of the United States, it appears that Kinahan will be untouchable. It is unknown how this will affect future boxing events going forward.