Roy Jones Jr: I'll Live in Russia For 6 Months, U.S. For 6

By Yuri Tarantin

A few days ago, former four division world champion Roy Jones Jr. (62-8, 45KOs) officially became a citizen of Russia.

The 46-year-old veteran will have his fifth bout in Eastern Europe on December 12th in Moscow, when he faces former WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli of the UK.

The decision by Jones to become a Russian citizen has caused a mixed reaction in the United States.

Jones is planning to cut his time in half between the two countries that he now calls home. The boxer will spend half the year in Russian and the other half in the United States.

"I'm planning to live in two countries - six months in Russia, six in the United States. I'm not a deserter, and I'm trying be a figure for unification. Yes, some people in the United States are against my decision. But soon they will realize that this is just an attempt to build bridges between the two nations," Jones said.

"Perhaps, going by my example, people will think and realize that [things over here] are not as bad as some people write. That is my goal. To help people open their eyes and see what I see."

Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru