Boxing company founded by crime boss Kinahan to shut down
MTK is one of the world’s largest boxing management companies and named Tyson Fury as one of its fighters on its website
MTK Global, the boxing management company founded by Daniel Kinahan, will close down after the crime boss was sanctioned by the United States government.
MTK is one of the world’s largest boxing management companies and named Tyson Fury as one of its fighters on its website, though he appeared to claim on Tuesday that he has not been with the company since 2020.
Kinahan co-founded MTK in 2012 before appearing to cut ties in 2017, though Bob Arum, whose Top Rank company promotes Fury’s fights in the United States, claimed last week that the Irishman is still “100 per cent involved” in the running of the company.
The company confirmed on Wednesday that they would close at the end of the month, saying promoters were no longer prepared to work with their fighters. They claimed they had been subjected to “unfair” scrutiny and contradicted Arum’s claim that Kinahan remains a key figure.
A statement said: “As a business we have faced unprecedented levels of unfair scrutiny and criticism since the sanctioning by the US Government of Daniel Joseph Kinahan.
“It is a matter of public record that Kinahan’s involvement in MTK ceased in 2017, and despite repeated reassurances in this regard, unfounded allegations about his ongoing association with us and our fighters persist.
“Since leading promoters have now informed us that they will be severing all ties with MTK and will no longer work with our fighters, we have taken the difficult decision to cease operations at the end of this month.
“Our priority in the weeks ahead will be to ensure that our world class boxers are supported to find new partnerships as swiftly as possible.
“MTK gyms are operated independently so will remain open for the foreseeable future.”
Last week the US government offered a $5 million (about £3.8 million) reward for information leading to Kinahan’s prosecution.
