Explaining the Kinahan Connection That’s Keeping Tommy Fury Out Of The Jake Paul Fight
Earlier today it was announced that Tommy Fury is officially out of his bout with the controversial Jake Paul after Fury was denied entry to the US. The reasoning many suspect, and are probably correct on, is the US sanctioning the Kinahan cartel back in April. So today, I’m going to give a little background on the cartel, how Tommy Fury is “involved” and how it can affect future boxing and MMA fighter’s career paths. Let’s begin.
The Kinahan Cartel: One of the biggest drug traffickers in the world
The United States decision to ban the Kinahan cartel comes in April after three decades or more of activity in the Dublin/Crumlin area. The US Treasury placed a ban on several high ranking officials of the group.
The Kinahans have evaded arrest in the US, Ireland, and the UK by having their new base of operations in Dubai. But the US Drug Enforcement Agencey is offering a $5 million reward for any information that leads to the arrest of any of the three Kinahans.
The Kinahans are suspected for being one of the largest movers of cocaine in the world and have been linked to several murders in the past. It’s estimated that the Kinahan gang controls around one third of the cocaine movement in the entire world.
In 2016, a war started out between the Kinahans and the Hutch gang, another drug ring based in Spain. At least 18 have been killed in that conflict.
Having their hands in boxing and MMA
The Kinahans expanded their business into the sport of boxing, horse racing and more. In 2016, the Kinahan gang was linked to fixing of horse races and were in trouble with the law in that realm. But our focus today will be on boxing.
The Kinahans started a boxing promotion called MTK Global. Fighters under said banner were Mick Conlan, Josh Taylor, and several other boxers. Another fighter signed to MTK Global was the UFC’s title contender Darren Till.
To hit a small tangent here, in 2017, a rumor went around that UFC star Conor McGregor allegedly punched a member of the cartel in a bar in Dublin. As a result (according to the rumor) a hit was placed on McGregor because of what he had done. While it was fueled off of WhatsApp messages saying that it happened, nothing ever came of it despite speculation running rampant.
So how does Tommy Fury fit into all this? Well, his older brother, the heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, is the key. Last month, Tyson Fury was stopped by US immigration officials and not allowed to enter the United States due to his alleged connections with the Kinahan cartel.
Tyson Fury has dealt with the Kinahans in the past and in 2020, he gave a shoutout to Daniel Kinahan for getting a two-fight deal done to unify the belts with Anthony Joshua, a fight that never came to fruition.
Ahead of his fight with Dillian Whyte, right as the sanctions against Kinahan were implemented, Fury quasi-distanced himself from the mob leader saying, “What a man does is his own business is none of my concern.” He also stated that, “Because I had my picture taken with a man it doesn’t make me a criminal,” which is true. But the United States government does not see it that way.
In addition to Tyson Fury, the two’s father, John Fury, is also banned from the United States, although that’s because he tried to gouge a man’s eyes out at a car auction in 2010.
So later, Fury’s brother Tommy had a bout booked with Jake Paul at the iconic Madison Square Garden for August. But, assuming that he’s guilty by association due to Tyson Fury, Tommy Fury is being punished for crimes he isn’t associated with.
Could the bout have been moved? Possibly. But why? It’s at Madison Square Garden, the most iconic boxing venue in the United States. Jake Paul is also the A-side here, like it or not. So now, he moves on and Tommy Fury misses out on a pay day unlike he’s ever seen.
