American heavyweight boxer chooses to fight for Putin's Russia

Moscow – US heavyweight Kevin Johnson (right) came close to the top of the boxing world before his star dimmed. Now, he wants to relaunch his career from Russia, where he has become a cheerleader for President Vladimir Putin.

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Relations between the West and Russia have hit record lows over Moscow's almost three-year Ukraine offensive – also hitting the sporting world hard.

But the 45-year-old American from New Jersey says he has found a "recipe" for success in his new home, where he was granted citizenship this year in a decree from Putin.

"It's all about the ingredients. Life is ingredients. And the ingredients in Russia are abundant. They make a good recipe," he told AFP ahead of a highly publicised fight today against mixed martial arts champion Vitaly Minakov.

Johnson has become a feature at car shows and in the celebrity pages in Russia, and has even appeared on a cooking show.