Boxing icon Tyson Fury’s path back to American soil was far more complicated than most fans realized. For years he faced significant obstacles entering the United States, complications that stemmed from his professional relationship with Daniel Kinahan, an Irish boxing adviser whom authorities have publicly linked to illegal activities.
Fury’s connection to Kinahan became impossible to ignore in June 2020, when the British boxer posted a video announcing what he called “the biggest match in British boxing history” against Anthony Joshua. In that clip, Fury explicitly credited Kinahan with brokering the deal.
“I’m just after getting off the phone with Daniel Kinahan. He’s just informed me that the biggest match in British boxing history has just been agreed. Get in there my boy!” Fury said in the video. He followed up with direct gratitude: “Big thank you Dan for getting this deal over the line.”
The public acknowledgment surprised people in Ireland, where Kinahan had been named in court proceedings as a senior figure in organized illegal activities. The Irish High Court had previously accepted police evidence identifying the Kinahan Organised Group as an international operation, with judges later accepting testimony about involvement in narcotics trafficking, weapons movement, money laundering, and targeted homicides to protect business interests. Spanish authorities concluded Kinahan was involved in a specific murder case, though they acknowledged insufficient evidence for prosecution.
Kinahan himself has never been convicted of any offense, and his legal representatives have strongly contested characterizations of him as involved in illicit activity, calling such claims “wild allegations” that are “false and have no evidential basis whatsoever.”
Nevertheless, the relationship between Fury and Kinahan was substantial and well-documented. Boxing News editor Matt Christie told the BBC that Kinahan “played a massive part in getting Tyson Fury out of the darkness, and offering him a route back to the sport of boxing” during the heavyweight’s comeback period starting in 2017.
Eddie Hearn, one of boxing’s most prominent promoters, described Kinahan’s role: “He is the guy leading this Tyson Fury ship. Everyone knows, particularly in boxing, that he represents a number of high profile boxers, [and] has represented Tyson Fury for a number of years.”
The connection ran through MTK Global, a management company that grew into one of the largest in boxing, representing more than 200 athletes. Fury signed with MTK in November 2017, reportedly on Kinahan’s advice. While MTK maintained that Kinahan had officially severed ties with the organization, multiple sources told the BBC that he continued advising fighters behind the scenes.
Sandra Vaughan who ran MTK, was candid about Kinahan’s continued influence. “I will always go to Daniel for advice,” she told the BBC. She went further, adding: “If anybody in the boxing world is doing any type of business in boxing and doesn’t speak to Daniel, or speak to someone that speaks to Daniel, they are telling lies.”
When Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar was questioned in Parliament about Fury’s public praise of Kinahan, he confirmed that Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs had contacted authorities in the United Arab Emirates where Kinahan had relocated about the matter.
The fallout was swift and severe for anyone professionally associated with Kinahan. Tommy Fury, Tyson’s younger brother experienced this firsthand in June 2022 when he was prevented from boarding a flight from London to New York for a press conference ahead of his scheduled bout with Jake Paul.
“As soon as I entered the airport I got pulled to one side and I was told by a homeland security officer that was there that my ESTA had been denied and I wasn’t able to travel to the USA for a reason that I apparently know,” Tommy Fury explained on Instagram. “I can stand here and say I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong and I have no clue why I am not allowed to travel to the USA.”
The younger Fury’s travel restrictions appeared to stem from his family name and the broader scrutiny of anyone connected to the Kinahan network, even without direct personal involvement.
For Tyson Fury, the barriers were even more entrenched. Despite his status as a world champion and one of boxing’s biggest draws, American authorities had effectively closed the door on his ability to train, promote fights, or conduct business on U.S. soil.
That’s where Dana White entered the picture. The UFC president who had developed a close relationship with Donald Trump over years of business dealings, decided to take Fury’s case directly to the former president. White’s intervention proved decisive.
Speaking with Mike Coppinger of The Ring Magazine, Fury explained how the resolution came about: “It all got done through Dana on Donald Trump’s table. And Donald Trump just went bang. Tyson’s a great guy. Come on in. That’s how it works. That’s how G’s go. They make things happen.”
With his travel status resolved, Fury was able to return to the United States for training and appearances. He set up camp in Delray Beach, Florida, training in preparation for his scheduled December 11th showdown with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff.
Fury even received marquee treatment at a White House event celebrating the UFC’s 250th anniversary, despite having no formal connection to mixed martial arts.
“I just got top of the bill walkout at 250 year freedom event at UFC which I’ve nothing to do with. Headlined the ring walk of an absolute legend,” Fury remarked.
The visa resolution opened up American opportunities Fury had been unable to pursue during his restricted period. He spoke enthusiastically about his growing fanbase across the United States, from viewers of his Netflix reality show to hardcore boxing enthusiasts.
“It’s crazy really the amount of fans I’ve got over there,” he said.
