Putin gives Roy Jones Jr. Russian citizenship (The Associated Press)
Vladimir Putin has given Russian citizenship to former world heavyweight boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. Jones asked Putin for citizenship in August over a cup of tea when they met in Crimea – the territory annexed by Russia last year – saying it would make doing business in Russia much easier. Putin said this would be possible if Jones planned to spend a significant part of his life in Russia, while the boxer said he hoped sport could help ”build a bridge” between the U.S. and Russia.