Boxer Tyson Fury is not affected by US travel bans placed on more than 600 people connected to mob boss Daniel Kinahan, his co-promoter revealed yesterday.
Bob Arum insists the world heavyweight champion had no business
dealings with Kinahan and therefore will not be refused entry.
Authorities are barring anyone who had any relationship with Kinahan, which includes those with legitimate dealings in the sport.
Read more: US authorities ban high-profile boxing figures with links to Daniel Kinahan
Asked if Fury is on the list, Arum told the Irish Mirror: “No, not at all. Fury never had a business relationship with Kinahan.
“The people being affected by these sanctions are those who had business dealings with Kinahan.”
Tyson, 33, nicknamed The Gypsy King, had been advised by Kinahan in an unlicensed role and in February, he was pictured with the drug baron in Dubai.
The Irish Mirror also previously revealed Kinahan was paid up to €7.5million for his role in Fury’s fight negotiations for four of his fights.
But Arum insists it was his company Top Rank Promotions who dealt with Kinahan then and the British fighter was totally unaware the now-sanctioned drug lord was being paid.
After the US Government declared war on Kinahan, his father Christy Snr and brother Christy Jnr along with four of their senior associates last month, Fury has moved to distance himself from the Dubliner.
He is also likely to return to the US to fight, despite announcing his retirement after knocking out Dillian Whyte at Wembley last month. Arum has revealed Fury, who also owns a property in the States, is contracted for two more bouts in the US with Top Rank.
Arum said the US sanctions on Kinahan means that there is “always collateral damage”.
Former pro boxer Matthew Macklin was turned away from boarding a flight to Las Vegas last month where he was to work for Sky Sports.
He co-founded the now defunct boxing management firm MTK with his former “best friend” Kinahan in 2012.
But Arum claims Sky Sports insisted in 2017 that Macklin cut ties with Kinahan if he was to work for the broadcaster. He said: “Matthew Macklin will eventually be OK. He had business dealings with Kinahan but he broke with him five years ago.
“Sky made sure he cut contact with Kinahan. It has been vigorous on the issue and Macklin has had nothing to do with Kinahan for the past five years.”
He added with his understanding of the situation, what happened with Macklin is an “injustice”.
Top Rank has a deal with Sky Sports but he said before it could be made, they ensured it was “divorced” from Kinahan.
Sky refused to address Macklin being prevented from travelling to the US but the company continues to stand by him.
A spokesman said: “Matthew Macklin relinquished his interest in MTK in 2017, and has had no commercial dealings with Daniel Kinahan since.
“He is not named in the US sanctions, nor does he have interest in, or prior dealings with, the named companies.
“However, he will of course be fully compliant with any responsibilities which may arise from the sanctions.”
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