Boxing's shame as it jumps into bed with a suspected crime boss: Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury's clash – the most anticipated in British history – is now tied to Daniel Kinahan, the man controversially linked to a gang tied to multiple murders

It seems ever more likely that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally agree to stand in a room together. The harder part will be making space for them when there is already a giant elephant in the corner.

What was once boxing’s dirty secret is now its inconvenient truth — the most anticipated fight in British history could be down to the brokering skills of a man considered by Irish authorities to be a vicious crime lord.

But here we are, courtesy of Fury’s social media message on Wednesday afternoon that laid bare his appreciation for Daniel Kinahan, the 42-year-old from Dublin who made it all happen.