Earlier today, Irish footballer James McClean tweeted his support of boxing management company MTK Global who announced a boycott of the Republic of Ireland Media with immediate effect.
The company, who currently manage Carl Frampton, Michael Conlan, Paddy Barnes, David Oliver Joyce, Jamie Conlan and Jono Carroll amongst others released a statement today explaining the decision.
Sandra Vaughan the CEO and Sole Shareholder of MTK Global cited the references to Daniel Kinahan in media coverage of their company as a reason for the decision.
Despite announcing MTK Global cutting all ties with Daniel Kinahan in February 2017, and announcing a full management buy-in by myself in October 2017, the Irish media have continued to vilify MTK Global in all and any mention of Irish boxing and MTK Global signed boxers.
McClean has since clarified his support, once again taking to Twitter to do so.
MTK was co-founded by Irish former middleweight boxer Matthew Macklin while Daniel Kinahan co-founded the initial project back in 2013. External investors subsequently bought out the company last year.
MTK Global also stated they would not host any event in Dublin.
Many of these fighters have won Olympic or world title medals at amateur level and are considered national heroes for their achievements. Yet the minute they turned professional, the Irish media turned their backs on them and instead have taken money out of their pockets by vilifying them in the press.
This witch-hunt by Irish media has left me with no choice but for MTK Global to pull out of the Republic of Ireland for the immediate future. We will not host fight nights in Dublin nor will any MTK Global athletes fight on a Dublin card.
