How Americans responded to Roy Jones's Russian passport

The leadership of the World Boxing Association (WBA) is under pressure from the US authorities, after boxer Roy Jones Jr. got Russian passport, said the athlete's promoter Vladimir Hryunov.

“After Roy Jones was presented with a Russian passport, Gilberto Mendoza (WBA Executive Vice President - IF) received a number of calls, including from the US State Department. Here's why and why he does it. At the time of this statement, the WBA rating had not been updated,” Khryunov said, commenting on Mendoza’s statement that the upcoming fight between Jones and Enzo Maccarinelli, which will take place on December 12 in Moscow, cannot be a title fight.

Hryunov explained that the WBA rating will be updated during the first week of November, after which the organizers expect to receive a sanction from the organization to conduct a title fight.

The promoter added that the reaction to Jones Jr. getting a Russian passport was not well received by all.

“Mendoza had never received a call from the US State Department before. You need to understand that he twice sanctioned boxing tournaments in Crimea, indicating in the documents as the venue: “Sevastopol, Crimea, Russia.” This is the man who helped the tournament take place in Venezuela with my participation as a promoter and Rosneft as a sponsor. Mendoza is a man of great merit to Russia. We are talking about serious pressure,” said Khryunov.

He noted that decision boxer to become a Russian has a great political effect and not everyone liked it.

“Naturally, they are jealous, naturally, there is a reaction from all sides, including US government agencies,” Khryunov said.

Earlier on the WBA website with reference to J. Mendoza, it was reported that the fight between Jones and Maccarinelli has not yet been sanctioned as a title fight by the version of the organization. This means that boxers cannot challenge any of the first WBA heavyweight titles.

Hryunov had previously announced that 12 December in Moscow Jones will hold the last bout in his professional career and will challenge the WBA superchampion title in a battle with American Antonio Tarver, who was later replaced by Briton Maccarinelli.

Earlier, Forum reported that the leadership of the Federal Migration Service of Russia on October 27 handed Roy Jones Russian passport.

20 August in Yalta, world champion, world boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. wrote a statement on granting him Russian citizenship.

Later jones got Russian citizenship.

At one time, Roy Jones Jr. was considered the strongest boxer in the world, regardless of weight category. He started his career in the professional ring in 1989 year. Jones was a world champion in four weight categories. At the same time, the American has established a unique achievement - he is the only boxer who has won the championship belt on average, second middle light heavyweight and heavyweight.

All in all, Jones won 62 wins in the professional ring (45 - by knockout) and 8 defeats. Boxer is also the silver medalist of the Olympic Games-1988 in Seoul.