Boxing has recovered from countless knocks and bumps over the years but a protracted bout resurfaced this week.
On Tuesday, some people may have begun to feel unsettled by news that the US government was imposing sanctions on Daniel Kinahan, a person described by the US Treasury Department as who runs the “day-to-day operations” of the Kinahan Foundation. Crime group.
Murder, drug dealing, money laundering are just some of the crimes that are placed on the doorstep of an organization housed in the same company as Camorra in Italy, yakuza in Japan and Los Zetas in Mexico.
Kinahan’s name has long been associated with the sport. Photographed with top promoters and fighters, the testimonials are given by grown men who should frankly understand better. Boxing can be an infuriating sport at times but such a man’s backing from celebrities has made Dwayne Johnson proud of it.
Such assistance has been rescinded in the last few days since the US Government launched their crackdown on Kinahan and a $5 million reward was given which resulted in the arrest of Daniel, his father. ta Christy and his brother Christy Jr.
The 44-year-old no longer seems to be seen as a ‘advisor’, ‘friend’, ‘good guy’ or ‘legitimate businessman’. Those who described him as such have now been silent.
Following Tuesday’s news, the boxer’s attempt to treat this reopened wound was to place a so-called ‘declaration’ Elastoplast on it.
On Wednesday, Probellum, a promotional outfit that was launched less than a year ago and was said by several people affiliated with Kinahan: ‘We can confirm that we will not have any relationship. any business contact or contact with him.
MTK Global (formerly known as MGM co-founded by Kinahan) also released a statement on Thursday saying it, ‘will fully comply with US government sanctions against Daniel Kinahan. MTK parted ways with Mr. Kinahan in February 2017. He has not been interested in the business since then and will not be involved with us in the future. ‘
Bob Arum, CEO and Founder of Top Rated, who once described Kinahan as ‘honorable’ will now have nothing to do with him. “I’m looking to sever ties anyway,” he told the Daily Mail.
The chairman of Matchroom Sport Ltd, Eddie Hearn, was photographed with a smile, and Kinahan was asked yesterday by Andi Purewal of Boxing Social about his reaction to the news.
“I don’t think there’s much to say other than that we are a huge global business that follows global regulations and guidelines and punishment book in place and we will continue to do so. We will give relevant advice and I don’t think there is too much to say. Of course, follow any guidelines and rules given.
Hearn was then pushed to see if he, like Arum, now wanted to work with Kinahan.
“Like what I just said. Everything is presented in black and white about what is allowed and what is not allowed, and we will strictly follow all the guidelines set forth by any country, by any government. federal, federal, anything can happen. “
Frank Warren, Hearn’s UK rival, in 2020 said, ‘Any dealings I’ve had with Daniel have involved the boxer who appointed him as their advisor. He is someone who is respected in every transaction and delivers everything as agreed. ‘ No declare from Warren or Queensbury Promotion yet.
What I think everyone can agree on is that the past few days have been an embarrassment for boxing, a sport that has been associated with criminal activity for decades. This is different. Boxing and gangsters are not a new relationship but in the age of social media where fights can be united on Twitter, Daniel Kinahan’s topic is now a wheel that rolls 24/7 picking up anything it might get on. All can find photos, article links, quotes, video clips just by typing Kinahan’s name into Twitter’s search function.
Newspapers and news channels are posting stories and quotes and statements to the contrary but unlike before, you don’t have to wait until tomorrow or next week for updates or opinions. .
The past 48 hours have been an ideal time for some parties to come out and admit their mistakes in any dealings with Kinahan. Don’t delete tweets or keep silent because in doing so the hole you make is widening even without your shovel.
Dillian Whyte broke her silence this week but for an entirely different matter. The heavyweight contender has finally decided to take part in the promotion of his upcoming bout against WBC champion Tyson Fury. Their fight will take place on April 23 at Wembley Stadium in the presence of more than 90,000 people. Yesterday, the two men took part in a Top Rated media call as part of the build-up to the fight for the all-British world title. It is standard practice and normally we are treated with cliché and/or clichéd questions and answers but the elephant in the Zoom room was not dealt with.
The Times’ Matt Lawton waited to ask about Kinahan as well as other heavyweight journalists. The questions raised in the YouTube live chat are from people who clearly know better. Lawton described the press conference as ‘shameful’.
Award-winning writer and author Donald McRae was also present and in an article for The Guardian wrote: ‘It’s like it never happened. Instead it was hot air and silence’.
So not only has boxing struggled to cope with this week’s events, it was also egged on yesterday.
But like any circus, the sport will hit more towns and cities this weekend and next week all eyes will be on Wembley Stadium. Fury, Whyte, Warren, Arum, 94,000 take part in one of the biggest sporting events of the year we’ll all be watching. The award is the heavyweight title of the World Boxing Council. Its president Mauricio Sulaiman last month wrote, ‘I also met Daniel Kinahan who is the boxers’ mentor and manager. A man has been labeled a person with links to criminal groups.
‘I had an engaging and insightful conversation with him, confirmed by the testimonies of many boxers, who expressed admiration and gratitude for the unconditional support he has given him. for them, has greatly improved their lives.
‘I have no right to judge any person, and it is the policy plus ethos of our organization, to combat all forms of discrimination and abuse of power, against any individual. any person or group.
‘That’s why Daniel will have our full support in his quest to benefit boxing.’
I wonder what Sulaiman has to say now.
There has been a loud knock on the door of boxing this week and if it comes to some, the door will be opened and some individuals will be dragged out.
Sadly, like other sports, we will never get rid of the bad eggs because while there are millions of bad guys will always find a way to get in. How it is handled depends on some people, such as those behind the statements and legally advised quotes, made in recent days.
Moving on, the sport has a chance to wipe out men like Kinahan on its own. The message is simple: Boxing has to do better. But will it?
