US heavyweight Kevin Johnson came close to the top of the boxing world before his star faded. Now, she wants to resume her career from Russia, where she will be a cheerleader for President Vladimir Putin.
Relations between the West and Russia have reached a low point over Moscow’s offensive for nearly three years – also hitting the sports world hard.
But the 45-year-old American from New Jersey says he has found a “recipe” for success in his new home, where he was granted citizenship this year under Putin’s law.
“It’s all about products. Life is used. And there are many products in Russia. They make a good recipe,” he told AFP before the highly publicized fight on Friday against mixed martial arts champion Vitaly Minakov.
Johnson has become a fixture at car shows and in the celebrity pages in Russia, and has even appeared on a cooking show.
He often expresses his admiration for Putin and wears a T-shirt with the president’s picture as a “mark of respect”.
He also likes to quote from the song of the pro-Kremlin pop star of the moment Shaman, entitled “I Am Russian”.
– Ten defeats –
The idea of going to Russia was inspired by the promoter and his friend Vladimir Khryunov, who invited him in 2023 to try to give his boxing career a second wind and ease the international isolation around the world of Russian sports.
Johnson was undefeated until 2009, when he lost to Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko in a WBC title fight in Bern, Switzerland.
He went on to win the IBF Australasian heavyweight title in 2012, but his career took a nosedive after that, with 20 defeats and just 10 wins over the next decade.
He arrived in Russia alone with his dog, Cane Corso.
After winning his first fight in Russia in April 2023, he said he wanted to become a Russian citizen – a move hailed by his promoter as “an act of courage”.
Relations between Russia and international sports organizations have been strained since the government-sponsored doping scandal following the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
They increased after Russia’s decision to send troops to Ukraine in February 2022, which led to a ban on Russian athletes.
Putin granted Johnson citizenship and bond under the same procedure used for others including American actor Steven Seagal.
“It’s the greatest honor in the world to be a citizen of Russia,” said Johnson, who speaks only a few words of Russian.
He took the patronymic Vladimirovich “in honor of our leader”.
– ‘Elder Vladimirovich’ –
The boxer, who lives in a Moscow village, has also enlisted in the army to recruit — a requirement under Russian law.
The AFP was invited to attend his enlistment at the military office, which he turned into something of a show, arriving in khakis and a military fur hat.
“I thought they were going to give me a gun today. I was ready. Yes! Officer Vladimirovich. I’m ready,” he said with a laugh.
In theory, he could now be drafted but is not required to do military service because of his age.
In an interview with AFP, he said he was committed to his new country, but refused to comment on the conflict in Ukraine.
He sees Putin favorably compared to the American president, Mr. Joe Biden.
“Putin in Russia is the leader; he is the great leader. He represents his country!” he said, echoing popular ways of describing Putin and his Russian supporters, criticizing Biden.
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