US reporters 'cagey' about Daniel Kinahan story until Bob Arum cut ties, boxing writer claims

Appearing on Crime World with Nicola Tallant this week, he discussed the closure of MTK Global and the fallout from sanctions placed on Daniel Kinahan by the United States.

"The whole thing has been handled very interestingly," he said.

"The fact that very few writers have even touched this story up until two weeks ago.

"I did a search for a bunch of writers, the top writers in the sport, just to see if they even mentioned the name Kinahan, none have."

"There was a list of at least 20 who haven't mentioned his name up until last Monday," he explained.

"But now all of a sudden because Bob Arum is on record and cooperating with the government now it's ok to do your job and report on this…

"It's just very strange but that's unfortunately the power that people like Bob Arum and other promoters have in this sport," he said.

Jake said that reporters feel compelled to follow a lead for breaking news, finding out when fights are happening and "other stuff they feel is relevant to their job" without upsetting their "master."

"Now that Bob is talking, everyone else thinks it's ok," he continued.

The writer added that journalists should have been asking questions about Kinahan's involvement in the sport two years ago.

"Rewinding back 2020 was the point where if you really wanted to ignore Daniel Kinahan's place in the sport, when Tyson Fury went on record saying Daniel Kinahan was the one responsible for putting together the fight with him and Anthony Joshua."

"That was the point when every writer should have been like 'who is this guy, why is he involved in the sport?'"

"I feel like we're more concerned with who's failing drug tests than who's literally supplying drugs."

Donovan, who is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com, said in boxing people are more concerned about people taking steroids, than questioning where the drugs came from in the first place.

"We don't know where they're getting the steroids, never mind the actual drug dealers infiltrating the sport."

Jake says he can't understand why people aren't being more forthcoming about their misplaced trust in Kinahan.

"The thing I've told people, too, I understand anyone who's done business with Daniel Kinahan, it's ok to say 'we've done business with him, we understand what's going on we are no longer doing business with him…' that should be the across the board answer from everyone."

"But instead, the more people try to mask their dealings with him it clearly shows they have something to hide."

- To hear more about Daniel Kinahan's rise on the boxing scene check out Jake Donovan on this week's episode of Crime World with Nicola Tallant, available to listen to now, wherever you get your podcasts.