Tyson Fury SPLITS from promoter Daniel Kinahan as links to a crime gang emerge

Tyson Fury has ended his relationship with advisor Daniel Kinahan, according to the heavyweight’s promoter Bob Arum.

The WBC heavyweight champion faced backlash after thanking Kinahan, who helped broker the agreement to fight Anthony Joshua, with the British duo set to face off twice next year.

Fury credited Kinahan with helping him make his inspired return to the ring in 2017, after Fury battled depression along with drug and drink issues following his win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.

Tyson Fury has ended his relationship with advisor Daniel Kinahan, according to Bob Arum

Kinahan (pictured), an Irishman currently based in the UAE, was name-checked on three occasions by Tyson Fury when he announced he has agreed a deal to fight Anthony Joshua

However, following Fury’s praise of Kinahan, the promoter’s name has since been brought up in Irish government where he has been linked to an organised crime gang.

Arum confirmed the split on Wednesday. 

‘Over the weekend I’ve had a lot of conversations with Tyson Fury and what we both decided is that myself, Top Rank and Fury will do all negotiations for fights in the future,’ Arum told The Telegraph.

‘Whether it’s for Joshua or Wilder or anybody else. We’ve informed Eddie Hearn about that. He knows where to go for the negotiations. Tyson and I have had long negotiations about it. That’s the way it’s going to be. 

‘This will eliminate a lot of confusion. We’ve talked with Dan, who Tyson and I both love and admire and respect, and he understands that it’s best the negotiations on Tyson’s side be handled that way. Both Tyson and I have each discussed this with Dan and he is amenable and satisfied and wished us luck. He only wants the best for Tyson Fury.

Joshua has agreed a fight with Fury thanks to Kinahan’s successful negotiations

‘Eddie (Hearn, Joshua’s promoter) has been informed of that. First of all there’s the negotiations to finalise for Deontay Wilder. We will do that on Tyson’s behalf with Premier Boxing Champions. But when I say Bob Arum, I mean Top Rank people. 

‘We’re one entity. We’re working now with venues in Nevada and in Texas to do that Fury-Wilder sometime in December. And also to negotiate with Eddie and Joshua and with any site that will make a proposal for the Fury-Joshua fight, assuming Joshua beats Pulev and Fury is successful with Wilder.’ 

Fury’s decision to part ways with Kinahan comes a week after he was dropped from his role in helping Bahrain’s royal family bring sport to Bahrain.

The High Court in Dublin have previously named Kinahan as a senior figure in an organised crime gang involved in international drug-trafficking operations and firearm offences.

Last week, numerous reports stated that Kinahan is no longer working with KHK Sports, the company that has been set up by the king of Bahrain’s son. He was only announced as an advisor in May.

KHK said ‘it has ‘discontinued its engagement with Daniel Kinahan and he is no longer an advisor’, according to RTE.

Last week, Leo Varadkar, the Irish Prime Minister, revealed his shock after Fury namechecked Kinahan in the announcement of an agreement to fight Joshua in a British heavyweight showdown.

‘I was taken aback by Tyson Fury and his video and dropping in that name you mentioned,’ Varadkar said.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he was surprised by Fury’s comments on Kinahan

‘While I cannot comment on any particular garda (Irish police) operation,’ Varadkar added, ‘I can certainly assure you that there has been contact between (Ireland’s) Department of Foreign Affairs and the authorities in the United Arab Emirates about that matter.’

Last Wednesday, Fury took to Twitter to reveal that he and Joshua are finally set to lock horns.

‘Just got off the phone with Daniel Kinahan,’ Fury said. He has just informed me that the biggest fight in British boxing history has just been agreed. Big shout-out, Dan. He got this done, literally over the line.’ 

Kinahan himself does not have a criminal record. He is one of the founders of MTK Global, a management company that represents Fury.