Scottish boxing boss Sam Kynoch claims he has 'severed ties' with Daniel Kinahan

Sam Kynoch of Kynoch Boxing Promotions and Management in Glasgow said that reports of his involvement with Kinahan are “categorically untrue” in a social media statement on Tuesday.

He said: “Publications in Scotland have recently made reference to ‘links’ between Kynoch Boxing and certain figures/organisations in the boxing world. I wish to clarify matters.

“Upon establishing Kynoch Boxing in 2018 I severed ties with MTK Global – the boxing management and promotion business which ceased operations last month... Any inference that I remain linked to MTK Global or any individuals linked to MTK Global are false.”

The former lawyer, who has no involvement in organised crime, wrote that Kynoch Boxing’s partner Probellum - which promotes a ­number of boxers connected with MTK Global – have also “made it clear that any inference that there is a connection between the management or ownership of Probellum and any of the individuals or businesses sanctioned by the US Treasury is categorically untrue.”

“I am satisfied that this is the case,” he added.

Kynoch set up MGM Scotland in Glasgow in 2015 as a “sister gym” to MGM Marbella in Spain, which was founded by Kinahan and his then-partner and friend Matthew Macklin.

Two years later, MGM Marbella rebranded to MTK Global and Kynoch was appointed as the new group managing director following Macklin’s departure from the company.

The Scot later set up his own boxing firm, Kynoch Boxing Promotions and Management, in 2018 and maintains that he stopped working with Kinahan soon after.

Meanwhile, it was announced earlier this week that individuals who breach sanctions imposed on mob boss Daniel Kinahan and his associates face fines of up to $1 million and a maximum 20 years in a US prison.

“Civil monetary penalties of up to $250,000 or twice the amount of the underlying transaction may be imposed administratively against any person who violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of … the regulations,” the Office of Foreign Assets’ Control states in their Transnational Criminal Organizations' sanctions program.

“Upon conviction, criminal fines of up to $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to 20 years, or both, may be imposed on any person who willfully commits or attempts to commit, or willfully conspires to commit, or aids or abets in the commission of a violation of … the regulations.”

On April 12, the US announced it was imposing the sanctions on seven "key members" of the Kinahan cartel, including leaders Daniel and Christy Kinahan Jnr and their father Christy Snr.

The sanctions against the Kinahan gang and its associated businesses in the UK and the United Arab Emirates mean US banks and companies cannot do business with the Kinahan organised crime group members and three designated businesses that were also been identified.

The sanctioned individuals also include gangster Liam Byrne's former right-hand man, Sean McGovern; Ian Dixon - a relative of Daniel Kinahan's mother; Bernard Clancy, a childhood neighbour of the Kinahans who grew up in the Oliver Bond flat complex, and ex-CAB target Johnny Morrissey.