Daniel Kinahan’s boxing promoter pal Bob Arum to cut ties with gangland boss

The 90-year-old said he will adhere to the United States government’s mandate related to business dealings with Daniel Kinahan.

On Monday, the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a press release in which it detailed sanctions against Kinahan, his father Christopher Snr and brother Christopher Jnr and other members of the "Kinahan Organized Crime Group (KOCG) for their criminal activities".

A US government official quoted in the press release noted that KOCG smuggles narcotics to Europe, launders money and commits murders as part of its criminal enterprise.

Arum, who was an attorney for the US Justice Department during the Kennedy administration, told BoxingScene.com on Tuesday that his boxing company, Top Rank Inc, has ended any business dealings with Kinahan.

He made it clear that neither he nor anyone else employed by Top Rank will have any further dealings with Kinahan, who is an adviser to two of Top Rank’s most prominent boxers – WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury and fully unified junior welterweight champ Josh Taylor.

Mr Arum, who is Tyson Fury's co-promoter, told Newstalk Breakfast he will cut all ties with Mr Kinahan.

"Frankly I was very surprised because I didn't realise that the United States was involved in that activity - so it really surprised me."

"I was surprised because I had no inkling that it was coming down, that there was any type of US involvement here.

"I knew all of the accusations from the Irish side of it - the Irish media and all of that - but I didn't even contemplate that the US would be involved".

Asked if he stood over comments he made in June 2020, in which he described Daniel Kinahan as 'an honourable man', he says: "Well no.

"I can't talk, nor would I talk, about his dealings with us - but when my government makes a statement like they made, as a law abiding citizen of the United States, I have no other alternative but to abide by their determination".

Mr Arum says he has not spoken with Mr Kinahan in a number of months.

"I haven't spoken with him... it's at least two months and it might be three - we haven't communicated."

He added: "I can't deal with him in the future because of the position of my government.

"Unless something obviously dramatically changes, which I can't foresee, I will not do business with Kinahan based on these assertions by my government."

Speaking in an earlier interview with BoxingScene.com, Mr Arum said: "We’re a United States company, we’re United States citizens. Our government has made this determination. We’re gonna follow our government. Period. End of story.

“Which means you can’t have business with the guy, and you’ve got to observe what the authorized representatives of the government have mandated. You’re either on board or you’re not on board.”

Arum also noted that Top Rank might not deal with MTK Global, founded by Kinahan in 2012 who later served in an advisory role for that company.

“The lawyers are looking into it,” Arum said. “Those are serious problems that have to be explored because, obviously, MTK appears to be (an entity) that he’s involved with. And, in which case, then it’s a no-no to deal with them.”

While Fury hasn’t distanced himself from Kinahan, Arum said he doesn’t expect Fury’s relationship with Kinahan to impact his upcoming mandated WBC title defense against London’s Dillian Whyte.

A capacity crowd in excess of 90,000, is expected to attend the Fury-Whyte card at Wembley Stadium in London but Arum insisted that Kinahan had nothing to do with putting together the fight.

Arum’s promotional partner, Frank Warren, won the right to promote with a winning purse bid of $41,025,000.

“Nobody had anything to do with making that fight other than Queensberry’s Frank Warren and ourselves,” Arum said. “It wasn’t even a negotiated thing. It was a purse bid. This guy from Dubai had absolutely nothing to do with it. I never discussed it with him. Neither did Frank. So, again, I don’t think it’s an issue.”

Mr Kinahan was sanctioned on Tuesday by the US government, and named as part of an organised crime group accused of smuggling cocaine.

The US Department of the Treasury has put some family members and associates on an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list.

US authorities also announced a $5m (€4.59m) reward for any information leading to the arrest of three members of the Kinahan family, including leaders Christopher Snr and his two sons, Daniel and Christopher Jnr.

The other members include gangster Liam Byrne's former right-hand man, Sean McGovern, and Tallaght native Ian Dixon - a relative of Daniel Kinahan's mother.

Also on the list are Bernard Clancy, a childhood neighbour of the Kinahan who grew up in the Oliver Bond flat complex and ex-CAB target Johnny Morrissey.