British boxer Amir Khan has described Daniel Kinahan as 'one of the nicest guys I've met' despite a recent BBC Panorama documentary investigating his involvement in boxing.
It comes after Kinahan denied responsibility for threats issued to a BBC Panorama team.
Kinahan - who has no criminal convictions but was named in The High Court in Dublin as head of a crime cartel - insists he has no involvement in crime.
Khan tweeted: "I’ve known Daniel for some time, I have huge respect for what he’s doing for boxing.
"We need people like Dan to keep the sport alive. One of the nicest guys I’ve met."
In a lengthy statement to talkSPORT radio this morning, Kinahan revealed plans to stay involved in boxing and claimed to have set up more than a dozen world title fights to date.
“I have started from the bottom and worked my way up," Kinahan said.
"I am proud to say today that I have helped organise over a dozen major world title fights.
"I continue to be involved in planning multiple record-breaking and exciting world title fights: I’m doing all I can to give fight fans around the world the fights they want.
"My professional commitment is always to the boxers, those who take the ultimate risk."
Police in Northern Ireland issued a caution of an 'unspecified threat', which was allegedly made from 'unnamed criminal elements' in relation to the Panorama show on Kinahan that aired a week ago.
In a statement, the BBC's Head of Current Affairs Jo Carr said: "The BBC places the utmost priority on the safety of our teams, whose journalism plays a vital role in a free society.
"It is despicable and intolerable if thugs think they can muzzle a free press through intimidation.
"We will continue to throw light into even the murkiest of corners."
In his statement today, Kinahan denied any involvement in threats to journalists.
He insisted: “I firmly believe that my success has led to an increase in the campaign against me. Pretty much anything can be said about me, or inferred about me, and it goes unchallenged and is sadly believed.
"Last week it was inferred that I had threatened a reporter. Let me be clear on this point before I address the other allegations against me. I have full respect for journalism.
"I have worked with journalists and I value their role. Journalists should always be free to do their job, free from any threat or harassment.
"I have never threatened a reporter or journalist or asked anyone to do that for me. I never have and I never would."
Kinahan made international headlines when heavyweight star Tyson Fury name-checked him in a video posted to social media last June, claiming the Dubliner had helped to set up a world title showdown with Anthony Joshua.
MTK, the boxing management company co-founded by Kinahan, say they have cut ties with him, although the BBC Panorama doc revealed Kinahan was still advising boxers attached to MTK.
And Kinahan vowed to continue to work in boxing , saying: “I’m blessed with an amazing family. I’m blessed to work in boxing at the highest level having organised some of the biggest fights in boxing previously and in the future.
"I will continue working every day to bring out the best in, and look after, the boxers I am lucky enough to work with."
