Daniel Kinahan, a notorious figure in international crime circles, has long been linked to professional boxing through his management company, MTK Global. However, new allegations emerging from a lawsuit filed in California have further exposed the depth of Kinahan’s entanglement with the sport. Former Top Rank agent William (Billy) Keane has accused the global boxing promotion company of secretly striking a multi-million dollar deal with Kinahan, paying him “under the table” to serve as an exclusive consultant outside the United States.

Keane’s lawsuit, which seeks over $25 million in unpaid fees, claims that Kinahan played a pivotal role in securing a lucrative deal for heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury. The deal involved Top Rank, ESPN, and an exclusive contract extension worth approximately $90 million annually. According to Keane, Top Rank president Todd duBoef was instrumental in brokering this secretive arrangement, despite being aware of Kinahan’s alleged criminal background.

Keane’s complaint details how he first introduced Kinahan to duBoef in an effort to secure Fury’s commitment to Top Rank. At the time, duBoef was under pressure to find a major star to satisfy ESPN’s demands for top-tier talent under their extended broadcast deal. Keane claims that in early 2019, he spent $27,000 wining and dining Kinahan and Fury in Dubai, laying the groundwork for the eventual partnership.

One of the most explosive claims in the lawsuit is that duBoef was fully aware of Kinahan’s reputation as a crime boss but chose to proceed with the arrangement anyway. Keane alleges that duBoef explicitly instructed him to ensure that ESPN remained ignorant of Kinahan’s involvement, fearing that any association with a known cartel leader would jeopardize their lucrative broadcasting contract.

The allegations also suggest that duBoef feared the rise of UFC as a competitor in combat sports, which led........

© Blitz