Former world boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. asked Putin for a Russian passport to visit his fans.
American former world boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russian citizenship over a cup of tea. The odd exchange happened during Jones's visit to Crimea, which Russia annexed last year and where the 46-year-old boxer and rapper will take part in a show this weekend.
During meeting with president Putin, which was interpreted by an interpreter, Jones asked Putin how the Russian president got into combat sport.
"I was fourteen. I liked fighting," said Putin. "I started learning our Russian national fight, sambo (abbr. for defense without weapon), then I moved to judo." Putin said sport "helps develop one's character".
The conversation then moved on to the subject of Jones' citizenship. "I want to ask you about maybe having a passport to go back and forth so that I can do business," said Roy Jones Jr. He added without a hint of irony: "because all the people here seem to love Roy Jones Jr and I love it when people love me."
Putin replied: "Your name is so famous for our sport lovers and lovers of boxing in Russia, and if you are to spend a significant part of your life in Russia doing your business, then I surely will be glad to satisfy your request about receiving Russian passport and Russian citizenship. I believe that the lovers of boxing would be very happy about that too, president Putin said.
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