American heavyweight boxer Kevin Johnson was once close to the top of the boxing world before his star faded. Now he wants to restart his career in Russia, where he became a cheerleader for President Vladimir Putin.
Relations between the West and Russia are at an all-time low due to Moscow’s nearly three-year offensive in Ukraine, which has also dealt a heavy blow to the sports world.
But the 45-year-old American from New Jersey says he has found the “secret” of success in his new home, where Putin issued a decree this year granting him citizenship.
“It’s all about raw materials. Life is raw materials. Raw materials are abundant in Russia. They are good,” he told AFP ahead of a highly publicized fight with mixed martial arts champion Vitaly Minakov on Friday. recipe.
Johnson has become the focus of car shows and Russian celebrity pages, and has even appeared on cooking shows.
He often flaunts his admiration for Putin and wears a T-shirt with the president’s face on it to show “respect.”
He also liked to quote “I Am Russian,” a song by then-pro-Kremlin pop star Samman.
– Ten years of failure –
The idea of moving to Russia was inspired by his sponsor and friend Vladimir Khryunov, who invited him in 2023 to try to make his A boxing career has been given a new lease of life and the international isolation of Russian sport has been eased.
Johnson remained undefeated until losing to Ukraine’s Vitaliy Klitschko in the 2009 WBC title match in Bern, Switzerland.
He went on to win the IBF Australian heavyweight title in 2012, but his career began to decline thereafter, losing approximately 20 fights and recording only 10 wins over the next 10 years.
He arrived in Russia alone with his dog Castro.
After winning his first fight in Russia in April 2023, he expressed his desire to obtain Russian citizenship, a move his promoter hailed as a “courageous move.”
Relations between Russia and global sports organizations have been strained since the state-sponsored doping scandal erupted at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
The situation worsened after Russia decided to send troops to Ukraine in February 2022, resulting in Russian athletes being banned from competing.
Putin granted Johnson citizenship by decree under a clear procedure that applies to others, including American actor Steven Seagal.
“Being a Russian citizen is the greatest honor in the world,” said Johnson, who speaks only a few words in Russian.
“In memory of our president,” he adopted Vladimirovich’s patronymic.
-“Officer Vladimirovich”-
The boxer, who lives on the outskirts of Moscow, also registered with the military for potential mobilization – a requirement under Russian law.
AFP was invited to attend his registration at the draft office, which he turned into a show, wearing khaki and a military-style fur hat.
“I thought they were going to give me a gun today. I was ready. Yes! Officer Vladimirovich. I was ready,” he joked.
In theory, he could now enlist in the army, but due to his age, he was not obliged to serve.
He told AFP in an interview that he loved his new homeland but refused to talk about the conflict in Ukraine.
He has a better opinion of Putin than U.S. President Joe Biden.
“Putin is the president in Russia; he is the commander-in-chief. He represents his country!” he said, echoing a popular description of Putin among Russian supporters while also criticizing Biden.
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