Boxing hero Gary Jacobs has split from a controversial promoter who had links to a notorious international crime clan.
The former fighter parted company with Sam Kynoch – the owner of Kynoch Boxing Promotions who was associated with the Kinahan family.
The 56-year-old former European welterweight champion now works with young boxers at a health and fitness centre in Thornliebank, Glasgow.
He declined to give details of why he had parted company with Kynoch, 35, but denied it was anything to do with the links to the Kinahans, who have a $5million bounty on their capture.
He told the Sunday Mail: “I no longer want to have anything to do with the Kynoch organisation. I helped the boy at the start but it was time to walk away.
“I believe my name is pretty solid in the boxing world.
“I have been doing it for 40 years but I was just pushed to the side as if I was a nonentity by Mr Sam Kynoch. His use of me was over so it was time to part company and let him do his thing and I do my thing.”
Jacobs had posted last week: “Due to a number of unfortunate circumstances, I am no longer part of or want anything to do with Kynoch boxing promotions, the gym or Sam Kynoch in particular.
“It’s been a long eight years and I have learnt an important lesson on trust and loyalty. I’ve moved on and wish them all the best.”
Jacobs had worked with Kynoch at his gym in Tradeston, Glasgow, for almost a decade, training young boxers.
He said he didn’t know anything about Kynoch’s alleged links to the Kinahans apart from what was in the Sunday Mail.
He added: “It is nothing to do with who he has been involved with.
“I do not know them. I do not know who he is connected to. This is just a personal matter between Sam Kynoch and myself.”
Kynoch had links to Daniel Kinahan, 44, the head of the clan.
In 2015 he set up a gym in Glasgow called MGM Scotland, described as the “sister” gym of MGM Marbella in Spain – founded by Kinahan in 2012.
Two years later MGM was rebranded as MTK Global and saw Kynoch appointed as group managing director by Kinahan.
Members of the Dubai-based clan are wanted by US authorities over murder, firearms and drug trafficking.
In 2018 Kynoch, a former corporate lawyer, launched his own firm, Kynoch Boxing Promotions.
It works with the latest stars of the sport, including world champ Hannah Rankin.
There is no suggestion that Kynoch, who moved into boxing promotion full-time in 2013, is involved in crime.
He was a former amateur boxer who competed for Scotland before injury ended his career aged 19.
In a statement, after the Sunday Mail revealed the crime links earlier this month, Kynoch said: “Upon establishing Kynoch Boxing in 2018, I severed ties with MTK Global – the boxing management and promotion business which ceased operations last month.
“Any inference that I remain linked to MTK Global or any individuals linked to MTK Global are false.”
