Tyson Fury chose to avoid discussing the disturbing news, which continues to resonate when he met in person with the media for the first time since the US Treasury Department announced last week that it had imposed sanctions on a leading boxing figure. Daniel Kinahan, who has been accused for years of leading a notorious drug cartel, has advised and acted on behalf of many fighters, including Fury.
US authorities have offered a reward of $ 5 million for additional information that could lead to the arrest of the Irishman in exile and then in court to answer a number of serious criminal charges. A spokesman for the US state also warned that anyone in boxing who is still connected to Kinahan should sever all ties with him or risk being involved in his activities. Kinahan has no criminal convictions and has always denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking to the Guardian, Fury stressed that he did not want to discuss any business other than his own and that he was “just a boxer” who was not qualified to comment on the US government’s position. Later, when he met with a small group of journalists from national newspapers, including the Guardian, Fury repeated: “It’s none of my business. I keep my own business to myself, that’s it. ”
When it was pointed out that his American promoter Bob Aram admitted over the weekend that he had paid Kinahan more than $ 4 million for four Fury fights between 2019 and 2021, the world heavyweight champion said: “This is a personal work by Bob Aram. He can spend anything on teddy bears if he wants. What someone does with their money is beyond my control. “
Boxer Tyson Fury and alleged Irish crime boss Daniel Kinahan in a photo taken in 2020. Photo: Unknown
Fury and his British promoter Frank Warren were at Wembley to announce Saturday’s title fight between Fury and Dillian White. Warren said: “Let me clarify a few things – one, Daniel Kinahan has nothing to do with this show and two, as Tyson said, he did not know of any Top Rank payments to Daniel Kinahan.
Warren and Fury were asked if they were concerned about the consequences for their sport, and the veteran British promoter said: “I am worried, but I am also concerned about some of the misinformation that is being spread. We are not stupid people. We all understand what happened to the US Treasury Department. This has been going on for three years now and we all know what we need to do and we will not break the law. We have never broken the law. “
Fury joked, “I was once fined for speeding.”
Then Warren said, “Is it a bad image for boxing? We sold 94,000 tickets in two days. Are we going to do a good pay-per-view business? Yes, we are. We are very aware of what we need to do as guardians of sport, but we are not police officers. This is just last week [allegations surrounding Kinahan have] we get to something. “
Asked if the Kinahan saga, which has such serious consequences for boxing, was distracting, Fury shook his head. “Not really, that has nothing to do with me anymore, does it?” If I say that there is a war in Ukraine and people ask me about it, it has nothing to do with me. I keep my business to myself. I have my own problems dealing with six children and a woman who teases me to death that I’m not home to help with the children. I have a lot more to think about than other people’s work. I have a man who wants to hit me in the face [on Saturday] and I have to deal with that. Everything else is beyond my control. “
Tyson Fury wears the MTK Global logo during MTK Fight Night in March 2021. Photo: Alex Livesey / Getty Images
When pressured to admit that this was a significant story, Fury said: “I really don’t pay attention to the media. I know what the media can do and I was a victim of witch hunts in 2015 and 2016. [when he was suffering from mental health problems and retired for a year from boxing]”
Earlier on Tuesday, it was confirmed that Bob Yalen had resigned as CEO of MTK Global. The American is said to have made his decision amid growing pressure as the Chinahan inspection became a public priority for the US government. MTK was founded under the name MGM by Kinahan and former boxer Matthew McLean in 2012. The company tried to protest that it was no longer associated with him, but various MTK boxers, including Fury, posted photos of Kinahan on social media.
There was no MTK logo on Fury’s Wembley suit, and he said: “It was made to be worn today and these are all my sponsors. That’s it. I’ve never been sponsored by MTK. “
Recalling that he wore the MTK logo before, his previous joking mood intensified. “It was from 2017 to 2020. Three years and that was all. Done. End of. Any other test questions you can think of to trip me up? Because you can’t. There is nothing to hide. Is there more? ”
Asked about the photo taken of him and Kinahan smiling together in Dubai in February, Fury said: “One photo does not mean I am a criminal. There may be a criminal in this building now. That doesn’t mean I’m involved in his criminal activities, does it?
White, meanwhile, was especially absent from open training. “I’m very disappointed he’s not here today,” Warren said. “Obviously he’s stuck on a plane or whatever. He’ll definitely be here tomorrow [at the press conference]”
Fury added with a wide smile. “I am sure he will do it, because if he does not show up, there will be murders. There will be trouble. [Dillian] you better show your ass. “
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