Crime boss Daniel Kinahan has insisted he wants to play his part in "safeguarding the future" of boxing.
But the claim by the man named by cops as a senior figure in an organised crime cartel has been slammed as "utterly galling."
The self-styled boxing "advisor" - who coincides his time in the game by running a global drugs and arms cartel worth an estimated €1billion - released a statement after questions were raised regarding the result of a boxing bout last weekend between two fighters he represents.
Scot Josh Taylor successfully defended his light-welterweight title against Englishman Jack Catterall on Saturday, in a controversial points result.
The British Boxing Board of Control has since launched an investigation into the scoring of the bout, which was broadcast on Sky Sports.
On Monday, the Fight Disciples Podcast raised concerns surrounding its result and on Kinahan himself, including on what influence he has on the sport and on individual fight results.
The two presenters, Adam Catteral and Nick Peet, also asked if he was washing his dirty cash through the boxing.
Kinahan issued a response on Tuesday morning through a fighter who acted as an intermediary between him and the podcast.
The cartel boss claimed the questions are "necessary and timely."
Drug pusher Kinahan went on to say: "Where unethical and corrupt practice exists, it's important to expose it.
"Some people have made serious allegations about my involvement in Saturday's fight. That is why I am happy to invite scrutiny. I've nothing to hide."
Kinahan - who resides in his Dubai bolthole after fleeing there in 2017 - also told how he was "proud" to represent both men who are also "personal friends."
And he continued: "I'll answer any questions asked of me and it is incumbent on others - advisors, managers, promotors, trainers and fighters - to do the same.
"Boxing needs to change and I want to play my part in safeguarding the future of the sport.
"Above all, we need greater transparency in decision making to ensure fairness for fighters and respect for fans."
But Fine Gael's Neale Richmond last night hit back at the gangster's claims.
The TD told the Irish Mirror: “The fact that Daniel Kinahan claims to have nothing to hide and wants to safeguard the future of the sport is utterly galling.
“Daniel Kinahan is running and hiding from his past; as opposed to safeguarding the sport, any involvement of Daniel Kinahan jeopardises it’s very future.”
There is no suggestion that Taylor or Catterall are involved in crime or wrongdoing.
Kinahan's role as a fixer at the top level of the sport emerged when in 2020, two-time world champ Tyson Fury hailed the Dubliner for getting his fight deal against Anthony Joshua "over the line."
It was later claimed that Kinahan stood away from those talks in a deal which later collapsed.
However, he remains advising Fury who defends his world title against Dillian Whyte in April.
He was videoed with Fury in early February on the rooftop of the Shatha Tower in Dubai as a poem was read out in honour of the "Gypsy King" Fury.
In recent days Kinahan was pictured with Irish boxer Jono Carroll in the UAE.
Kinahan founded MTK, originally MGM, in 2012 alongside former pro boxer Matthew Macklin, who has no involvement in crime.
In 2017 the management firm claimed Kinahan stepped away.
But they then later admitted he remains advising a number of their fighters and has advised MTK to sign fighters, including Fury.
Kinahan bolted from Spain to Dubai in 2017 following the outbreak of violence between the cartel and the Hutch crime gang in Ireland.
The year beforehand, he was the target of the Regency Hotel attack in Dublin, in which his close associate David Byrne was shot dead.
In response, gardai believe Kinahan orchestrated his cartel's onslaught against the Hutch gang. The feud claimed 16 lives overall.
Gardai are continuing to work on bringing Kinahan to justice and as part of their investigations, they have travelled to the UAE to liaise with police enforcement there.
Daniel was named in the High Court in 2018 as running the day-to-day operations of the Kinahan organised crime group.
The Special Criminal Court last year further confirmed that the KOCG carries out "execution-style" murders and traffics drugs and arms on a global scale.
