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By Cassandra Cousineau, LVSportsBiz.com Boxing and WNBA Writer
Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame member Roy Jones Jr. told LVSportsBiz.com he is willing to personally get involved in the Brittney Griner case and talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin himself to get the WNBA star back to the U.S.
“If I go there, if this doesn’t work I will go to Mr. Putin myself,” said Jones, who holds dual American and Russian citizenships.
Griner has been sentenced to nine years in Russia on drug smuggling and possession charges. She was in possession of two vape cartridges containing hashish oil that were found in her luggage.
Jones was in Las Vegas last week to attend his induction to the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, where LVSportsBiz.com asked Jones about his efforts to free Griner.
“Right now, I’m hearing they’re trying to do a prisoner swap. If they do the prisoner swap, that will be good. If the prisoner swap does not work then you have to understand that I’m a diplomatic type of person,” Jones said. “I don’t get into politics, but my friends are my friends.”
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, has been detained in Russia since February. She was detained at the airport while attempting to make her return to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg. Along with Phoenix Mercury teammate Diana Taurasi, Griner won back-to-back championships. In August 2016, she re-signed with UMMC Ekaterinburg for the 2016–17 off-season. She reportedly earns at least $1 million to play in Russia. That’s more than quadruple what she made as a player in the WNBA.
While her attorneys have appealed the conviction, the Biden administration has been trying to strike a deal with Russia in return for Griner’s return to the United States. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said in July that the US had “put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago” to gain the release of Griner and another American, U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
Jones made a professional career out of facing adversity. He’s considered by many to be one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxing champions and won the WBA heavyweight title in 2003, becoming the first former middleweight champion to win a heavyweight title in 106 years. This is also a fight he’s willing to take on by directly by appealing to Putin.
Jones said he would personally ask for a favor of the Russian Prime Minister. “I know you gave me Russian citizenship, but I need one more favor. I need something to happen so we can get this girl back home.”
Much has been made of a possible prisoner swap, though there are no guarantees of its success. “So, if they don’t do it with this prisoner swap, then I’ll go try to see what I can do myself,” he said while on the NVBHOF red carpet located inside Resorts World Las Vegas.
Jones still remains optimistic that Griner will be returned to the United States ahead of serving a nine-year sentence in Russia.
“You gotta remain optimistic because it’s never over till it’s over. I feel like because of my relationship knowing Putin like that, I owe it to her and her family, to my country here to go ask him if she’ll get out with a prisoner swap.”
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