By Gabriel Princewill-
World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was refused entry to the United States tonight because of his former ties to crime boss Daniel Kinahan, it has been revealed.
The unbeaten WBC king was not allowed into in the country earlier tonight by U.S immigration officials.
No suggestion of crime or association of with Kinahan’s criminal activities on the part of Fury have been made.
Last month, Assistant Garda Commissioner John O’Driscoll, confirmed that more than 600 people with links to the Kinahan leader have been barred from entering the United States by American authorities.
Speaking during a trip to the U.S, Mr O’Driscoll said sanctions prohibiting travel to the U.S had been placed on several hundred individuals due to their connections with the Kinahans, including large numbers involved with professional boxing. At no point was it made known that Fury was listed amongst those facing the stated sanctions.
“Businesses associated with boxing in particular, and its connections with the U.S, are of particular focus of the US authorities.”
The list of 600 includes a large number of boxers who are not involved in crime, such as Tyson Fury, but have worked with Daniel Kinahan in his capacity as a promoter or manager.
The bar from entering the U.S appears to be lacking in merit, if mere association is the basis on which Fury has been prevented from flying abroad, the decision appears to be ill considered and grossly unfair.
Arum revealed he had paid Kinahan more than $1 million for each of Fury’s four bouts against Tom Schwarz, Otto Wallin – as well as both of his fights with Deontay Wilder.
However, that’s no fault of Fury, if he was unaware and uninvolved in the wanted man’s dealings.
Fury and veteran British-based promoter Frank Warren have maintained they had no knowledge or involvement in any payments from Arum to Kinahan .
When asked in April whether Fury had any business association with the crime boss, he replied
“Zero, absolutely zero,” he responded. “That’s none of your business and none of anybody else’s business, I don’t think. Is it?” Fury said.
“My business is my business, your business is yours.”
On April 12, the United States offered a $5million (£3.8million) reward for help arresting the leaders of Ireland’s Kinahan drug trafficking gang which it likened to some of the world’s most notorious crime networks.
Fury announced his retirement from the sport in April after a sensational knock out of Dillian Whyte in the fifth round.
He recently told Piers Morgan, on the Brits programme Uncensored that he would come back to the sport for half a billion pounds. “I said I’ll come back for half a billy, half a billion pounds. That’s £500m. If that’s not ridiculous… I don’t know what is!
“When that number is on the table, I would definitely look at it. Half a billy is half a billy.”
Fury is currently rated the best in the heavyweight division, but his place in the history books will no doubt be contentious if he stays retired and doesn’t unify the titles, especially in the event of Joshua pulling off a stunning victory against Usyk for his come back rematch in August.