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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Daniel Kinahan-linked promotion to stage world title fight

A promotion linked to Daniel Kinahan since its inception is to stage a world title fight in Liverpool on Friday night.

Probellum, who moved to distance themselves from the mob boss after the US imposed sanctions on the Kinahan cartel, stage an 11-fight card at the M&S Bank Arena in the city.

They said in a statement after the santions were imposed: "Probellum takes the sanctions made by the US Treasury extremely seriously and the business and its employees will be fully compliant with them.

"We have retained counsel in the US to ensure that we fully comply with all rules, regulations and requirements related to this matter, including not working with any individual or company that has been placed under US sanctions.

"This includes Daniel Kinahan and we can confirm that we will not have any business relationship or communication with him whatsoever."

It added: "Any suggestions that Daniel Kinahan is a shareholder or owner of Probellum are false and defamatory."

Daniel Kinahan with Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti the provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Government of Punjab, Pakistan (Twitter/Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti)

But Kinahan was pictured with a Pakistani politician last month in what was described as a 'Probellum meeting'.

Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti, the Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Government of Punjab, Pakistan shared a photo with Kinahan and commented: "Met @probellum on aligning vision on boxing for Punjab & how to make this sport bigger for our youth.

"Looking forward to hosting Daniel in Lahore to discuss Pakistan’s first International fight with foreign world class boxers Inshallah. Will share more info in the upcoming weeks."

The main event on Probellum's Liverpool card sees England's Paul Butler and Filipino boxer Jonas Sultan clash for the WBO interim world bantamweight title after John Riel Casimero was told he would be allowed to fight after using a sauna to cut weight, which is against the British Boxing Board of Control's (BBBofC) medical rules.

Another bout on the night sees Londoner Sam Maxwell and Mexican Alejandro Meneses fight for the vacant IBO world super lightweight title.

None of the fighters on the show have any involvement in criminality.

A number of those in action on the night are MTK Global fighters, with the company that was founded by Kinahan announcing earlier this week that they will cease operations at the end of the month.

They said in a statement: "As a business we have faced unprecedented levels of unfair scrutiny and criticism since the sanctioning by the US Government of Daniel Joseph Kinahan.

"It is a matter of public record that Mr Kinahan's involvement in MTK ceased in 2017, and despite repeated reassurances in this regard, unfounded allegations about his ongoing association with us and our fighters persist.

"Since leading promoters have now informed us that they will be severing all ties with MTK and will no longer work with our fighters, we have taken the difficult decision to cease operations at the end of this month.

"MTK prospered because we always put the long term interests of our fighters at the heart of what we do. Our priority in the weeks ahead will be to ensure that our world class boxers are supported to find new partnerships as swiftly as possible.

"MTK gyms are operated independently so will remain open for the foreseeable future. Further announcements will be made in due course.

"Thank you to all the fans who have supported us over the last decade."

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