Who is Daniel Kinahan and how does he relate to Tyson Fury?

The TYSON FURY name has made headlines again with Daniel Kinahan – and for all the wrong reasons.

The Gypsy King was reportedly set to face AJ in August 2021 before Deontay Wilder won his case for a rematch with Fury, who lost to him the previous year.

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And Fury praised Kinahan for getting the paperwork over the line in arguably the biggest British boxing match in history.

But who exactly is he and what was his involvement in the great fight that never happened?

Who is Daniel Kinahan?

A controversial figure in his native Ireland, Kinahan is the eldest son of alleged drug lord Christy “Dapper Don” Kinahan.

In 2012, he co-founded MGM, a boxing promotions company that has since been renamed MTK Global.

Kinahan, who co-founded the company with ex-fighter Matthew Macklin, is no longer involved in the operation after cutting ties in 2017.

In addition to Fury, MTK Global has Billy Joe Saunders, Carl Frampton, Paddy Barnes and MMA star Darren Till on its books.

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MTK has nine locations around the world including London, Marbella, Dubai, Johannesburg, Manchester and New York.

Irish Olympic boxing hero Barnes previously said: “MGM is Matthew Macklin. He is the founder of the gym and he is my manager.

“I have nothing to do with any crime. Matthew is not a criminal. i am not a criminal

“So if anyone wants to talk about crime and about Daniel and Christy Kinahan, they should ask them themselves.

“If he wants to sit in my corner, he can sit in my corner.”

MTK and Top Rank signed a lucrative deal with ESPN in March 2019 that has seen Fury’s star blossom since his epic first meeting with Deontay Wilder in the States.

According to Ben Davison, Fury’s former coach, Kinahan played a big part in bringing Fury back into the ring after his publicized three-year absence.

Davison revealed: “Tyson struggled to trust people [before his 2018 comeback].

“Threats of legal action were constantly being thrown at him, a thousand hurdles in his way before he even considered making a comeback, and Daniel cleared those before I came on the scene.

“Daniel gave him the basis for a fresh start, a positive outlook and a way back to the top. It was huge for Tyson.”

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He is banned from entering the United States and his name reportedly appears on target lists from the Criminal Assets Bureau, Drug Enforcement Agency and FBI.

And in 2016, Kinahan was reportedly the target of an assassination attempt at a battle scales in Dublin, killing one man and wounding two.

Bahrain-based fight promoter KHK Sports appointed Kinahan as an agent in May 2020.

But after a series of revelations, Kinahan was dropped from the lucrative role by June and reportedly retired from boxing.

KHK said: “KHK Sports confirms that Daniel Kinahan has ended his engagement and is no longer an advisor to KHK.

“KHK is known for its contributions to the sports industry and is known and respected for its integrity and deep-rooted principles in the sports industry.”

Kinahan has been featured in a new BBC ONE Panaroma documentary entitled Boxing and the Mob, which aired on February 1, 2022.

How is Kinahan involved in Tyson Fury?

When Fury announced the collapsed fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to the world on June 10, 2020, Fury checked Kinahan’s name in an Instagram video and credited him with bringing the fight “over the line”.

Fury said: “I’m just about to get on the phone with Daniel Kinahan there.

“He has just informed me that the biggest fight in British boxing history has just been arranged.

“Kudos to Dan, he did it. Literally over the line. Two fight deal. Tyson Fury against Anthony Joshua next year.”

According to Fury’s promoter Frank Warren, negotiations for the heavyweight superfight were being handled by Kinahan – who has been named as the two-time champion’s “adviser” – due to an “existing relationship” with AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn.

A statement from Warren’s Queensberry Promotions read: “Queensberry Promotions and MTK Global have seen today’s comment regarding a possible unification fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

“We can confirm negotiations between Eddie Hearn and Tyson’s agent Daniel Kinahan have taken place.

“Both Queensberry and Top Rank, as Tyson’s exclusive promoters, and MTK Global, his management team, agreed that this would be the best way forward given Eddie and Daniel’s existing relationship.

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“As with all previous statements, Queensberry, Top Rank and MTK are committed to working with all parties to get this fight through the line.

“At this stage we can confirm that no contracts have been signed between the parties concerned, nor have details of venues, dates and numerous other key terms been agreed.”

Fury previously posed in a picture with the Kinahan in Spain in 2017, but there is no indication that Fury is involved in any criminal misconduct.

What happens to Daniel Kinahan now?

The US government is offering £3 million ($5 million) for information that could lead to the arrest or conviction of other leaders involved in the Kinahan cartel.

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Former world boxing champion Barry McGuigan claims the alleged crime boss introduced “an element of terror” into the world of boxing.

Allegedly taking over a criminal gang specializing in trafficking drugs and firearms around the world.

However, in the BBC documentary, Daniel denied all claims of being connected to a gang.

The wanted man said: “I cannot express the basic insult any clearer – I am not part of any criminal gang or any conspiracy.

“I have no beliefs. None. Not just in Ireland, but all over the world.”