American Boxer Kevin Johnson Granted Russian Citizenship by Putin

American boxer Kevin Johnson, who expressed his desire to become a Russian citizen to President Vladimir Putin after defeating Russian boxer Vyacheslav Datsik last April, has officially been granted Russian citizenship. The 44-year-old athlete received his new identity card and passport during a ceremony at the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow, following a decree signed by Putin on January 9. Johnson, attending the event in a T-shirt featuring Putin’s image, humorously mentioned changing his name to Kevin Vladimirovich in honor of the Russian president.