BoxRec

Kevin Johnson Becomes Russian, Changes Name To Honor Vladimir Putin

Heavyweight veteran Kevin 'Kingpin' Johnson (36-21-2, 20 KOs), 43-years-old, announced in an overseas interview that he's now Russian - and also changed his name to Kevin Vladimirovich.

The name change, according to Johnson, was to honor Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"As a compliment to President Vladimir Putin, I decided to change my name. I will now be called Kevin Vladimirovich — in honor of Vladimir Putin. Now I am 100%, no joke, 100% Russian," Johnson said to Russian newspaper Izvestia.

Back in April, Johnson easily defeated mixed martial arts fighter Vyacheslav Datsik in crossover boxing match. Afterwards, Johnson made a plea for Russian citizenship and told local reporters that he wants to live in Russia.

Johnson is scheduled to face unbeaten Russian prospect Mark Petrovsky on August 18 in Moscow.

Since early 2022, Russia has been involved in a military conflict with neighboring country Ukraine.

Coincidently, in 2009, Johnson lost a twelve round decision when he challenged Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title. Klitschko is currently the mayor of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.

During the course of his ongoing career, Johnson fought a who's who of top heavyweight names - including Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, Andy Ruiz, Derek Chisora, Filip Hrgovic, Kubrat Pulev, and many others.

Johnson is not the first American fighter to pursue Russian citizenship.

Back in 2015, former four division world champion Roy Jones Jr. became a Russian citizen.

At the time, Jones has cited the country’s large “community of boxers” and the fact that he is beloved there as reasons he chose to become an official citizen. In order to obtain citizenship, Jones met with Putin in the pro-Russian Ukrainian territory of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

How embarrassing!

Chisora is about three more losses away from being eligible for Russian citizenship, I guess. Although a little young at 39

Vlad The Insaner must be more embarrassed than Kevin Whatshisname is.

What is it with Americans in the public eye sucking off Putin??

Boxing does cause severe brain damage.

I assume Russia is still interested in booking him to get beat up by Russians huh?

I guess that's it. Anything to prolong his career.

isnt johnson running from child support orders lol, maybe why he's become such a globe trotter

Thanks for that info about a war. I would never have known

Or perhaps he's not been totally brainwashed by the Globalist controlled media?

Perhaps he can actually think for himself?

It doesn't take any intelligence at all to think how the likes of the US would react if the Russians were to set up bases in Mexico or Cuba does it?

Oh hang on, I think we've seen that Cuban scenario before somewhere...

Last time I looked Israel weren't exactly being welcoming to their Palestinian neighbours either.

Heck, here in the UK, despite hundreds of years of no conflict, we're not always exactly best buddies with our Scots and Welsh neighbours.

It wouldn't surprise me if Putin was actually seen as a hero by millions and millions of people.

Some of whom might actually dare to admit it.

Thomastearns wrote: ↑11 Aug 2023, 16:16 Or perhaps he's not been totally brainwashed by the Globalist controlled media?

Perhaps he can actually think for himself?

Nah .. definitely off with the fairies.

A person who admires another person who sends their young men off to kill their close neighbours and get maimed or killed in the process is definitely not a person able to think for themselves; I'd argue it's a person incapable of thinking at all

As if we needed further proof getting punched in the head for a living isn't good for you.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑11 Aug 2023, 12:58 isnt johnson running from child support orders lol, maybe why he's become such a globe trotter

Didnt he have a special needs daughter and was a single parent? Or maybe im confusing him with some other journeyman

tonyevs wrote: ↑12 Aug 2023, 03:41

Thomastearns wrote: ↑11 Aug 2023, 16:16 Or perhaps he's not been totally brainwashed by the Globalist controlled media?

Perhaps he can actually think for himself?

Nah .. definitely off with the fairies.

A person who admires another person who sends their young men off to kill their close neighbours and get maimed or killed in the process is definitely not a person able to think for themselves; I'd argue it's a person incapable of thinking at all

You do know Ukraine is just as guilty as Russia for the war happening? Where the he'll have you been? What Ukraine did on the borders of Russia would be equivalent to Canada or Mexico lining their borders of USA with missile bases.

Ukraine continuously poked the bear and put Russias security at risk. No powerful country is going to tolerate such acts. Ukraine is far from the victim, do your research.

NateJR wrote: ↑12 Aug 2023, 14:53

tonyevs wrote: ↑12 Aug 2023, 03:41

Thomastearns wrote: ↑11 Aug 2023, 16:16 Or perhaps he's not been totally brainwashed by the Globalist controlled media?

Perhaps he can actually think for himself?

Nah .. definitely off with the fairies.

A person who admires another person who sends their young men off to kill their close neighbours and get maimed or killed in the process is definitely not a person able to think for themselves; I'd argue it's a person incapable of thinking at all

You do know Ukraine is just as guilty as Russia for the war happening? Where the he'll have you been? What Ukraine did on the borders of Russia would be equivalent to Canada or Mexico lining their borders of USA with missile bases.

Ukraine continuously poked the bear and put Russias security at risk. No powerful country is going to tolerate such acts. Ukraine is far from the victim, do your research.

Whole topic on this in Off Topic Nate viewtopic.php?t=255705 where you can talk about what Ukraine did on the borders/poking the bear (I assume you are talking about the “new borders” after Russia by force “annexed” Crimea -part of Ukraine)

% of Americans who know who Kevin Johnson is. .000000001%.

Tony1244 wrote: ↑13 Aug 2023, 08:59 % of Americans who know who Kevin Johnson is. .000000001%.

Percentage of Americans who care if he left 0%

Will they announce his new name next week when Mark Petrovskii beats up on him?

NateJR wrote: ↑12 Aug 2023, 14:53

tonyevs wrote: ↑12 Aug 2023, 03:41

Thomastearns wrote: ↑11 Aug 2023, 16:16 Or perhaps he's not been totally brainwashed by the Globalist controlled media?

Perhaps he can actually think for himself?

Nah .. definitely off with the fairies.

A person who admires another person who sends their young men off to kill their close neighbours and get maimed or killed in the process is definitely not a person able to think for themselves; I'd argue it's a person incapable of thinking at all

You do know Ukraine is just as guilty as Russia for the war happening? Where the he'll have you been? What Ukraine did on the borders of Russia would be equivalent to Canada or Mexico lining their borders of USA with missile bases.

Ukraine continuously poked the bear and put Russias security at risk. No powerful country is going to tolerate such acts. Ukraine is far from the victim, do your research.

Apologies. I hadn't read that Ukraine had joined NATO and put missiles on their Russian border.
I'd actually mistakingly read that Ukraine had decommissioned and given their last nuclear missile to Russia by 2001 in exchange for promises Russia would protect them if they were attacked .. such as by a neighbour invading them.

You sound a very clever and clued up expert on this. Can you provide me with research please .. also some research on the world being flat, the fake moon landing, and Elvis working at the local chippie.

Much thanks

handsofstone wrote: ↑11 Aug 2023, 11:27 What is it with Americans in the public eye sucking off Putin??

Starting around 2012, there was a big rivalry between the Obama administration and Putin, because Putin was trying to take over Crimea and the Obama administration was resisting. At this point, Putin began to perceive certain Obama officials as enemies including Obama, Biden, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton (which is a major reason why Putin didn't want Clinton to win the presidency in 2016). Since Putin was a former member of the KGB, he's always understood the value of information warfare, and has tried to court the favor of Americans via public relations attempts, like circulating pictures riding horses shirtless, etc. (btw, Putin engages in information warfare on massive scales, including significant amounts of sewing Euroskepticism and interfering with the elections of basically every European country and even Brazil). Since Obama was the first black president, racists were having an absolute psychological meltdown that continues to this day; which manifested in the form of circulating conspiracy theories and hate about Obama, and siding with his political rival, Putin. Fox News would join in and praise Putin as basically a hero / cult figure of the racist, political right.

The weird thing is why black celebrities would be so intrigued by Putin, when you consider that American admiration for Putin is low key an anti-black movement. But, the way that former Soviet countries put up big money to succeed in amateur boxing, as a form of PR to market their country, is likely the same mechanism that is behind this. I.e. Putin is probably paying financially-challenged pseudo-celebrities small sums of money like $50-100k to help spread a pro-Russian message, including professing to acquiring Russian citizenship (whether real or fake), to make Russia look good. Putin would probably consider it well worth it to spend like $50k in order to win over all or some of the American boxing fanbase.