Notebook: MTK Global to cease operations as fallout continues in Kinahan case

Fury speaks on Kinahan relationship; Casimero out of Saturday defense; Golden Boy secures Estrada-Franco rights; Farmer, Bey to fight in Ghana; Quick hits; Show and tell

Apr 20, 2022

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MTK Global announced on Wednesday that it will cease operations by the end of this month as the fallout of the Daniel Kinahan case continued with rapidity.

“As a business we have faced unprecedented levels of unfair scrutiny and criticism since the sanctioning by the U.S. Government of Daniel Joseph Kinahan,” MTK Global said in a statement. “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.”

The company’s website was no longer in operation on Wednesday, displaying only its statement.

MTK Global, a management and promotional company that at one point had more than 250 fighters in its stable, including Tyson Fury, Josh Taylor, Billy Joe Saunders and Michael Conlan, was co-founded by Kinahan in 2012 and although he sold his share of the Dubai-based company in 2017, most believe he has controlled the business from behind the scenes from Dubai, where he now lives after fleeing Ireland, where he is wanted by authorities.

Last week, his case took on new gravity when the United States formally sanctioned him along with six of his associates and three companies he is said to be involved with. A $5 million reward was offered for the “financial destruction” of the Kinahan Organized Crime Group and/or information leading to the arrest and conviction of any of the seven named in the U.S. government’s announcement.

As the head of the crime group, Kinahan, who had also become a powerful adviser to numerous boxers, is said to be responsible for ordering murders, distributing cocaine across Europe and money laundering. Many believed Kinahan was laundering money through MTK Global.

The sanctions against Kinahan mean that if anybody is found to be doing business with him, his associates or the companies he is involved with they could face civil or criminal charges, which is why the boxing industry has largely disassociated from MTK Global in the past week.

“MTK prospered because we always put the long term interests of our fighters at the heart of what we do,” MTK said in its statement. “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.”

MTK Global CEO resigns

On Tuesday, MTK Global CEO Bob Yalen resigned as part of the Kinahan fallout.

“We regret to announce that Bob Yalen has today stepped down as CEO of MTK Global for personal reasons,” MTK Global said in statement. “We would like to thank him for all of his efforts on behalf of the business and his leadership of our team.”

Yalen, who moved from Connecticut to Dubai to run the MTK, is a former ESPN executive responsible for boxing programming, among other roles in the sport over the years. He was hired as president of MTK in 2018 and promoted to CEO in June 2020, when MTK owner Sandra Vaughan stepped down as CEO.

“I am incredibly proud of the success of MTK Global and I feel privileged to have served as president and CEO,” Yalen said in a statement. “However, the pressure of the last few weeks has been particularly intense. I need to consider the impact on myself and my family. So after four years leading MTK, I think it's time for me to step aside to take on new challenges.”

Yalen, a noted boxing historian, record keeper and six-time Sports Emmy winner, will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the observer category in June.

Fury speaks on Kinahan

Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on Tuesday addressed his relationship with Kinahan, who has served as Fury’s adviser.

Fury was questioned on the day of his open workout ahead of his mandatory title defense against WBC interim titleholder Dillian Whyte on Saturday at London’s Wembley Stadium, where a sellout British-record crowd of 94,000 is expected.

“I don’t get involved in other people’s business and I keep mine to myself and that’s it,” Fury said in a freewheeling question and answer session with reporters following the workout. “What other people do in their lives – I’ve got my own troubles and my own problems to work on myself with a wife and six kids, so I keep my business to myself.”

Fury had a lot more to say about the situation. Please read my story for Big Fight Weekend here: https://bigfightweekend.com/news/tyson-fury-finally-addressed-kinahan-controversy/

Casimero out vs. Butler

John Riel Casimero will not be permitted to defend his WBO bantamweight title against mandatory challenger and former titlist Paul Butler in a fight rescheduled from Dec. 11 in Dubai to Saturday at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.

Instead, Butler will face late replacement and former junior bantamweight title challenger Jonas Sultan for the vacant WBO interim title in the new main event of the Probellum card while Casimero has been ordered by the WBO to “show cause” as to why he should not stripped.

On Tuesday, the WBO notified Casimero manager Egis Klimas that it had received word from the British Boxing Board of Control, which regulates boxing in the United Kingdom, that Casimero was found to be using a sauna in an effort to cut weight, which is against the BBBofC’s medical guidelines, and that he would, therefore, not be permitted to fight.

“Furthermore, the BBBofC indicated that Casimero has completed two weight checks since arriving in U.K. and these proceedings have shown an alarming reduction in weight of 10 pounds in only three days,” the WBO letter to Klimas said. “Lastly, the Board informed the WBO that this is not the first time Casimero has attempted rapid weight loss prior to a bout and is reported he attended the hospital due to the related effects.”

With Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs), 33, of the Philippines, out of the fight, he also likely will be stripped because when the fight with Butler was postponed in December — because Casimero dropped out at the last minute because he had to go to the hospital due to gastritis — the WBO allowed Butler promoter Probellum, which had won the promotional rights in a purse bid, to reschedule the bout under specific guidelines.

The WBO said that the fight could be rescheduled but that if Casimero “does not attend for any reason whatsoever the official weigh-in for his bout against Butler” the title would be declared vacant. The WBO also said that if Casimero was injured or was unable to participate in the bout “for any reason whatsoever,” the title would be vacated.

In it’s ruling on Tuesday, the WBO also pointed out that Casimero has not made a mandatory defense in the 28 months since winning the 118-pound title and “therefore, Casimero is in clear violation” of WBO rules.

So, while giving Casimero 48 hours to “show cause” why he should not stripped, the WBO also approved Sultan (18-5, 11 KOs), 31, of the Philippines, to fight Butler (33-2, 15 KOs), 33, of England, for the interim belt on Saturday.

GB wins Estrada-Franco purse bid

Golden Boy Promotions was the lone promoter to make an offer at the WBA purse bid on Tuesday for the fight between junior bantamweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada and secondary titleholder Joshua Franco.

It claimed promotional rights with the minimum offer of $120,000. Estrada is due 75 percent of the bid ($90,000) and the Golden Boy-promoted Franco is entitled to $30,000, but he would make much more under the terms of his promotional agreement.

In securing the rights to the fight, Golden Boy gave the WBA June 11 in Los Angeles or July 16 in either California or Nevada as dates and sites for the fight, which would likely headline a DAZN card if it happens.

But why was there only one bidder and will Estrada fight for such short money? I wrote about it for Big Fight Weekend. Read the story here: https://bigfightweekend.com/news/golden-boy-won-estrada-franco-purse-bid-tuesday/

Farmer-Bey set for May 21

Former world titleholders Tevin Farmer and Mickey Bey, both coming off long layoffs, will fight each other in a 10-round lightweight on May 21 at the Accra Sports Center in Ghana. The card will be available via pay-per-view ($29.99) at FarmervsBeyPPV .com.

Farmer (30-5-1, 6 KOs), 32, a southpaw from Philadelphia, outpointed Billy Dib to win the IBF junior lightweight title on Dib’s turf in August 2018 and then made four defenses in 11 months in one of the busiest stretches for a titleholder in recent years. In his fifth defense, in January 2020, Farmer lost the 130-pound title by decision to Joseph Diaz and has not boxed since.

“This is big fight for both of us at this stage in our careers and I know what I need to do to make the most of this opportunity,” Farmer said. “I want to show the world the type of warrior I still am and that I have a lot of fight left in me. This is going to be a tough fight, but I will come out on top.

“A win against Mickey Bey will put me right back in the mix to fight for a world title at lightweight. Everything is riding on this bout, and I can’t wait to get in the ring and do what I do best and that’s fight.”

Bey (23-3-1, 11 KOs), 38, of Cleveland, won the IBF lightweight title by split decision from Miguel Vazquez in 2014 and never defended it. He has been very inactive, going 2-2 since the title win. He has not boxed since a split decision loss to George Kambosos Jr. December 2019 on the Terence Crawford-Egidijus Kavaliauskas undercard at Madison Square Garden in New York.

“I am excited this bout came together,” Bey said. “It was a lot of hard work from both Tevin and myself, and we’re bringing world-class boxing to Africa. This will be a global event that features elite fighters battling in a huge sporting venue that promises to provide an amazing atmosphere. Tevin is one of the best fighters I could face, and when other fights fell out for him, I jumped at the chance to fight him.

“This is my chance to show everyone that I am one of the best fighters in the world. I would love to get my rematch with Kambosos Jr. one day and putting on a great performance against Tevin Farmer lays the groundwork for me to be able to get that fight in the future.”

In the co-feature, former WBO junior featherweight titlist Isaac Dogboe (23-3, 15 KOs), 27, who is from Accra, will face Eugene Lagos (16-6-3, 11 KOs), 27, of the Philippines, in a 10-round featherweight fight. Dogboe’s last seven fights have been in the United States. It will be his first fight at home since 2017.

Quick hits

Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya had an acrimonious falling out that caused Alvarez to leave Golden Boy Promotions, and while they never fought each other in the ring, they will compete against each other on the golf course in the Icons Series’ U.S. debut event at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J. (June 30-July 1 on Peacock). The tournament brings together iconic athletes from multiple sports for a 10-hole team match-play tournament. De La Hoya will be on Team USA and Mexico’s Alvarez is on Team Rest of the World. The 12-player teams will be captained by golf superstars Fred Couples and Ernie Els, respectively. Others playing include Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps, Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and former world No. 1 women’s tennis player Ash Barty.

Jake Paul is featured in a segment on HBO’s 300th episode of “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” which debuted Tuesday and is available on demand. As HBO puts it in its material on the piece, “From rapping to elaborate pranks, Jake Paul’s YouTube videos are viral sensations, amassing more than seven billion views. Now, with no experience at all, Paul has decided to become a full-time professional boxer. Undefeated in his first five pro fights, Paul still hasn’t gone toe-to-toe with a boxer with a ranking. Nevertheless, millions of people have been buying pay-per-views to watch his fights, making him one of the biggest and richest names in the sport today.” Paul said in the piece he earned $45 million in his three pay-per-view fights in 2021.

Show and tell

After eight dominant WBC junior lightweight title defenses, Floyd Mayweather moved up to lightweight. In his first fight in the division he took on WBC titleholder Jose Luis Castillo, the No. 1 fighter in the world at 135 pounds. It turned out to be one of Mayweather’s toughest fights. He took the first few rounds with ease, but an injured shoulder and Castillo’s dogged determination and constant pressure got him back into the fight, although he was penalized one point by referee Vic Drakulich for hitting on the break in the eighth round. Mayweather was penalized one point for elbowing in the 10th round.

In the end, Mayweather claimed a title in a second weight class with an extremely unpopular decision — 116-111, 115-111 and 115-111 — that was booed loudly by the crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. HBO unofficial scorer Harold Lederman had Castillo winning 115-111, as did many. I was writing for USA Today at the time and scored it 114-114 watching on TV. They would have an immediate rematch eight months later that Mayweather also won by close decision. The first fight was on April 20, 2002 — 20 years ago on Wednesday. Here is an extraordinarily rare (and giant) site poster in my collection that originally hung in an MGM Grand light box during fight week.

Casimero photo: Sean Michael Ham/PBC

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