Former world boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. is going to obtain Russian citizenship "in the very near future," his promoter Vlad Hrunov said Monday.

US citizen Jones, 44, expressed his desire to obtain a Russian passport last Saturday but it was officially confirmed Monday only.

"I'm dealing with the citizenship issues for Roy Jones," professional sports R-Sport news agency quoted Hrunov as saying.

According to the boxer's agent, Jones will buy a property in the town of Belorechensk in the southern Krasnodar region for permanent living. Hrunov is native of that small town.

After five years of residency a foreign citizen becomes eligible for a Russian passport, although citizenship could also be fast-tracked by the President's decree.

In January 2013, French movie star Gerard Depardieu was granted citizenship by President Vladimir Putin.

Jones is the only boxer in history who started his career in a light-middle weight category and went on winning a heavyweight title. He is also a renowned rapper.