caring gangster Ex-WBC champion describes mob boss Daniel Kinahan as a 'very soft and caring person'

The professional British boxer Ohara Davies has described Irish mob boss Daniel Kinahan as a “very soft and caring person”. 

Davies, who held the WBC Silver light-welterweight title from 2016 to 2017, was responding to a tweet about him “getting thrown under the bus” when he replied in a message praising Kinahan.

“I was very stressed, Daniel Kinahan was actually the only one who reached out to help me the all those years ago.....he’s a very soft and caring person," Davies tweeted.

Others replied in disbelief with one person writing: “Have a Google of Trevor O’Neil, an innocent victim of the Kinahan cartel. Murdered when on a family holiday. Really caring.”

Another added: “And him and his crew are WANTED for drug dealing, gun running and murder! ... but he’s a very soft and caring person."

In an earlier tweet, Davies gave a shout out to Irish fighter Jono Carroll, who also recently sang Kinahan’s praises in an online interview when the Carroll again defended Kinahan.

“Mother f***ers can say what yous want, this man gave me opportunity’s in this sport and without him I would of walked away a long time ago, I stand by everything I said here, I’ll always be thankful for his help and guidance in this sport,” Carroll tweeted.

In reply, Davies wrote: “Respect to you for this Jono, Seems to me like a bit of a witch hunt against Daniel Kinahan, how can they crucify a man like this who has never been convicted of a crime?”

It follows another image posted by boxing firm MTK Global's head coach showing himself posing with Daniel Kinahan - just two days after the promotion company denied links to the Irish Mafia boss.

The photograph was posted on Twitter by coach Danny Vaughan, the husband of former MTK Global CEO Sandra Vaughan.

Veteran trainer Vaughan can be seen standing proudly with Daniel Kinahan, boxers Sunny Edwards and 'Falcon' Waseem and trainer Grant Smith in a reception area in Dubai.

None of the four men standing in the image with Kinahan have any involvement in criminality.

Alongside the photograph, Vaughan has written 'Top Team.. Advisor Daniel Kinahan. #loyalty.'

Danny Vaughan describes himself as 'head coach' for MTK Global and has a long association with the company and worked for the firm when it was based in Spain and known as MGM.

His wife Sandra Vaughan is a close friend of Daniel Kinahan and has previously spoken in a glowing manner about the cartel chief.

She became the public face of MTK Global after Kinahan stated he was no longer involved in the firm.

On Thursday, MTK Global released a statement distancing themselves from Kinahan claiming he has not been involved with the company since February 2017.

It said: "MTK Global will comply fully with the sanctions made by the US government against Daniel Kinahan.

"MTK parted ways with Mr Kinahan in February 2017. He has had no interest in the business since then, and will have no future involvement with us.

"MTK operates ethically, transparently and lawfully. We will cooperate fully with all authorities and assist with any ongoing investigations."

CEO of MTK Global, Bob Yalen, added: "MTK Global will take every measure to ensure the company, and those who deal with it are fully compliant with the US sanctions announced this week and take this matter extremely seriously."

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.

However, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris urged sports personalities and businesses to consider their involvement with the Kinahan crime gang.

Mr Harris said people who deal with those sanctioned are involving themselves with a criminal network.

He said they should look at their own businesses and relationships with their fans and consider if this is something they want to be involved with.

"In terms of some individuals, prominent sporting individuals who are in some way connected with this grouping, I would say look at your sport, your fans, and think of your own reputation because this is a very serious announcement today after a large amount of work."