Originally established in 2012 as Macklin's Gym Marbella (MGM), [8] the undertaking has attracted controversy due to its links to the Kinahan cartel and related allegations of money laundering,[9][10] and MTK Global announced its closure in April 2022.
This deal will enable Top Rank, through the ESPN family of networks, to afford viewers in the United States the opportunity to see these great fighters perform.
[23] The company claimed that it had faced "unprecedented levels of unfair scrutiny and criticism" after the United States government enacted worldwide sanctions against Daniel Kinahan.
The tournament will be held across three weight-classes – featherweight, light-welterweight and light-heavyweight – with eight fighters competing in each division and the winners securing a two-year, five-fight contract with MTK Global.
[27][28][1][29][30] On 5 February 2016, an alleged associate of the Kinahan Cartel, David Byrne, was shot dead after armed men dressed as Gardaí stormed a boxing weigh-in held at the Regency Hotel in Dublin, Ireland, for an event promoted by MTK Global.
[31] In September 2016, Spanish police raided MGM Marbella in Puerto Banús as part of an international crackdown on the Kinahan Cartel's criminal activities, searching properties in both Spain and Ireland.