Shadow Boxing: What next for boxing after Daniel Kinahan?

MTK Global is no more but that doesn’t mean the story of Daniel Kinahan in boxing is over. Not by a long shot.

There are other companies in the fight game that seem to have connections to him. At the very least, clarification is needed.

There are major figures in boxing – from promoters to TV executives – who dealt with Kinahan over the years. Have they nothing to say now?

Read more: €1 million luxury Dubai apartment tops Kinahan gang’s property portfolio

The US sanctions on the Kinahans and related companies wasn’t the start of this story. It wasn’t the end either.

In the final episode of Shadow Boxing, we look at the damage done, and whether the sport can recover.

We talk to two of the most respected writers in the sport – Matt Christie, editor of Boxing News, and Donald McRae of The Guardian – to get their views on what might happen now.

The reaction of many within boxing to the sanctions imposed on Kinahan was depressingly predictable.

There were pat, prepared lines that were thrown out in an attempt to bat away awkward questions.

There wasn’t a single call from anyone prominent in the sport for proper governance to prevent another Daniel Kinahan becoming involved.

We can hope that this has been boxing’s darkest hour, that there are clearer skies ahead. But it’s hope, nothing more than that.

Professional boxing has gone down the road of moving away from traditional media and embracing podcasters and YouTubers.

Some of them are actually financed by various boxing bodies, so hard questions aren’t likely to be on the agenda.

In 2020, the then CEO of MTK, Sandra Vaughan, gave an interview to IFL TV, a YouTube outfit with close ties to them.

At one stage, she talked about the perception of Kinahan in Ireland and, especially, by the Irish media.

“They are going to have to at some point acknowledge the fact that, as I say whether they like it or not, people like Bob Arum, Frank (Warren), Eddie (Hearn) – all of these big fights will happen because of Daniel Kinahan,” she said.

“That is fact. The other part is fiction. I don’t know whether it is the Irish mentality but at some point, would you not be proud that someone from inner city Dublin is actually sitting at the table with that level of organisation – making fights?

“For Ireland, would you not be proud of that; would you not be proud that someone has got out of that inner city life and made a huge success?”

We all know by now who Daniel Kinahan is, and what he is. Many in boxing don’t care.

Some others – like Sandra Vaughan – loved to paint him as a working class hero.

Who knows what will happen now, as no-one predicted the events of recent months.

Would you not be proud? Pride is one word that isn’t being bandied about.

Read more: Lawyer of boxing manager Moses Heredia suing Daniel Kinahan says his client should get $6million payout

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