The man responsible for brokering the biggest fight in British boxing history between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is alleged to be involved in a €1billion crime empire.

Daniel Kinahan, the founder of MTK, was named by Fury as the man behind his two-fight deal with Joshua, which was agreed for next year on Wednesday afternoon.

Kinahan is considered one of the major power brokers in boxing and was last month tasked by top promoters Bob Arum, Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn to find a venue in the Middle East for the huge heavyweight unification fight with Saudi Arabia the current frontrunner.

The Sun, however, allege that the Dubliner has been named recently in court by Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) as a leader of the Kinahan cartel, an organised crime group involved in drugs, weapon smuggling and 'execution-type murders'.

The Irish Times also claims that in 2018, a Spanish police officer told a court in Marbella that Kinahan had ordered the murder of gang rival on the Costa Del Sol in 2015.

The publication also alleges that a ruling that same year stated he controlled the Kinahan crime gang which was involved in worldwide drugs and weapons smuggling.

It is also understood that Kinahan, who is now based in Dubai, has no criminal record but is facing serious allegations against him.

Frank Warren, whose relationship with Kinahan dates back a number of years, insisted he did not know about the allegations earlier this week.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'I was unaware of these court cases. I didn't know of the allegations or who made them. I cannot comment.

'Any dealings I have had with Daniel are related to boxers who have appointed him as their advisor. He's been honourable in all dealings and delivered on everything as agreed.' 

In 2016, Kinahan was the target as men armed with AK47s and some dressed as Irish Garda stormed a weigh-in for the Clash of the Clans bill at the Dublin Regency Hotel, a boxing event that was co-promoted by Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and MGM.

TV cameras captured the horror and commotion as gunmen killed one man and injured two others. A gangland feud was cited and the fall-out has been linked to another 18 deaths, raising serious questions about the Irish police's handling of the investigation.

Four years on, despite footage from the weigh-in being widely broadcast, no-one has yet been held accountable for the deaths.

Kinahan has continued to re-establish himself within the sport building strong connections from his Dubai base over the last few years.

And he was recently appointed by Bahrain's royal family as a 'special advisor' to its KHK Sports outfit, overseeing various projects involving mixed martial arts, boxing and combat sports.  

WBC world heavyweight champion Fury, who is managed by Kinahan's MTK Global, praised him for getting the deal with Joshua over the line.

Speaking on Instagram, Fury said: 'I've just got off the phone with Daniel Kinahan and he informed me that the biggest fight in British boxing history has just been agreed. Get in there my boy. Big shout out to Dan for getting this done and over the line.

'It's a two-fight deal, Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua next year. One problem, I've just got to smash Deontay Wilder's face right in in the next fight and then we go into the Joshua fight next year.

'So there we are, the Gypsy King vs AJ is on for next year but there's a hurdle in the road called the Bronze Bomber, AKA the knockout king and I will get on to him and knock him spark out and then we will go on to the big fight. 

'So big thank you again Dan for getting this deal over the line. All the best and God bless you all. See you soon and peace out.'