Letter Issued To Prevent Probellum, MTK Boxers From Fighting on Sky Sports

[Ruthless-RKO]

Letter Issued To Prevent Probellum, MTK Boxers From Fighting on Sky Sports

Any boxer who wants to appear on Sky Sports must sign a document to confirm they have no ties to companies previously linked to accused Irish crime lord Daniel Kinahan.

A one-page code of ethics distributed by Boxxer Limited—featuring the company’s logo and address in the header—explains in detail the company’s working relationship with Sky Sports and the standard to which athletes are held under such an agreement. The letter—a copy of which was obtained by BS.com—requires each participant to deny working in any capacity with promotional outfit Probellum or the now-defunct managerial conglomerate MTK Global.

Both companies are named in the second of three conditions under which participants are required to meet in entering said agreement. The letter does not mention Kinahan by name, though his alleged ties to both companies were reported at length in the wake of sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of Treasury against the controversial figure and several members of a group identified by international authorities as the Kinahan Organized Crime Group on April 13.

The U.S. Treasury Department offered up to a $5,000,000 reward for information leading to the financial disruption of the KOCG and all business ties, or the arrest and/or conviction of Kinahan, his younger brother Christy Sr. and father Christy Sr. The matter quickly grew into an international investigation, with Ireland, the U.K., Spain and even the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—which doesn’t have an extradition treaty with any of the aforementioned nations—joining the U.S. in applying pressure on Kinahan and any affiliated business.

According to the letter, participants must confirm that they “do not employ, engage or work with any individual or entity which is subject to any embargoes, sanctions, trade controls or investment restrictions imposed, administered, or enforced by OFAC, the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. State Department, Executive Orders by the President of the United States, the United Nations Security Council, the United Kingdom; nor will I transfer any monies that Boxxer has paid to you in connection with the attendance at the Event(s); and/or the Sky Agreement to any such individual or entity.”

Said parties are also required to verify that they “do not employ, engage or work with MTK Global or Probellum, nor will I transfer any monies, including any monies that Boxxer has paid to you in connection with the attendance at the Event(s) and/or the Sky Agreement, to either such entity.” Nor are they permitted to ““transfer any monies, including any monies that Boxxer has paid to you in connection with the attendance at the Event(s) and/or the Sky Agreement, to either [Probellum or MTK]” prior to signing the document to work with Boxxer and Sky.”

Neither Probellum nor MTK Global were named in the U.S. sanctions as companies directly tied to Kinahan and his alleged crime organization. However, there existed industry-wide speculation of Kinahan’s—or at least MTK’s—direct involvement with Probellum since its inception last September. The company went on a massive signing spree, with most of its fighters already fighting under the MTK banner.

Both companies are headquartered in Dubai, where Kinahan has lived since at least 2016.

Further speculation was fueled of ties between Probellum and Kinahan this past March, when Rai Taimoor Khan, the Provincial Minister of Punjab for Youth Affairs, Sports, Archaeology and Tourism, tweeted pictures he took with Kinahan and Sandra Vaughan, though specifying a meeting with “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 matter was chalked up by Probellum officials as a mistaken classification, and again after Top Rank founder and chairman Bob Arum insisted that Kinahan “100 percent” still runs both Probellum and MTK.

Probellum has since threatened legal action against Top Rank, claiming that “any suggestions that Daniel Kinahan is a shareholder or owner of Probellum are false and defamatory.”

A report from The Daily Mail in the UK suggests similar actions will be taken against Boxxer—an upstart promotional company founded and run by the UK’s youngest licensed promoter Ben Shalom—based on discovery of the letter in question.

BS,com has learned that the letter has been in circulation since at least mid-May, shortly after MTK Global disbanded in the wake of growing scrutiny. The company was co-founded by Kinahan and former middleweight title challenger Matthew Macklin—who is not involved in crime and was not named in any sanctions— as MGM (Macklins Gym Marbella) in 2012, though Kinahan’s departure from the outfit was announced in 2017. The company was rebranded as MTK Global soon thereafter, shifting ownership to Sandra Vaughan.

Kinahan’s name resurfaced through the media in 2020, though again with the insistence through several MTK members that he no longer played an active role in the company.

BS.com has learned that several MTK fighters who signed with Boxxer last fall were instructed during a signee unveiling to not mention the managerial company by name. The instructions came as Sky confirmed a four-year deal with Boxxer, filling the void left behind by Matchroom Boxing upon the U.K. launch of global sports streaming app DAZN.

Sky has avoided securing TV rights to boxing shows tied to either company. Along with its four-year pact with Boxxer in the U.K., Sky has an equally long agreement in place with Top Rank. However, noticeably absent from its schedule is the three-belt bantamweight championship rematch between WBA/IBF champ Naoya Inoue and WBC titilist Nonito Donaire, which takes place June 7 in Saitama, Japan. Top Rank is the U.S. promoter for Inoue, while Donaire was among the first signees with Probellum last fall.

Probellum’s logo does not appear on the official fight poster nor was the company mentioned by name in Top Rank’s press release formally announcing its securing U.S. rights to stream the event on ESPN+. Probellum issued its own press release, taking pride in the fight as promoter Richard Schaefer played an integral role in securing the fight with Teiken Promotions and Amazon Prime Video, which will air the event live in Japan.

[Ruthless-RKO]

This explained why Sky didn’t show Jani-Dig and also not showing Inoue-Donaire.

Hopefully this will resolve the issue.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I’m sure Matthew Macklin will sign this is he wants to continue commentating for Sky.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joshua’s management company used to be called MTK PROPERTY INVESTMENTS LTD..

https://find-and-update.company-informa ... y/09961111

Will he have to prove anything?

[mickey1975]

What will Davison do?

[Ruthless-RKO]

What will Davison do?

Yeh, assuming it’s anyone who wants to be on Sky.

[liamlion]

What will Davison do?

His world literally must have be turned upside down with all this MTK fallout after the American’s upped the anti.

He must have been paid a fortune and living like a king.

[cormack]

What will Davison do?

Yeh, assuming it’s anyone who wants to be on Sky.

its an exersise in covering their backsides and Davison will have to agree or risk his fighters being denied fights .

[mickey1975]

What will Davison do?

Yeh, assuming it’s anyone who wants to be on Sky.

its an exersise in covering their backsides and Davison will have to agree or risk his fighters being denied fights .

He hasn't even changed the colour scheme on his gym branding.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Just heard Probellum are getting law firm involved. Looking to sue Ben and Boxxer for their comments.

[Spud]

Restriction of trade springs to mind

[TheLeprechaun]

Is this all a front?

[jimmystone]

Restriction of trade springs to mind

That's exactly what the US agencies are trying to do. Restrict the trade in cocaine and heroin, or at least restrict who is allowed to wholesale it and who isn't.