You don’t have to be a boxing buff to enjoy the deft moves of Vladimir Putin, the world’s first KGB-trained boxer. What a punching style. He can deliver a left cross and right cross so fast that observers at ringside have called it a double cross.

Let’s go to the main event - the political fight scene, where Kid Kremlin has come out swinging on all the issues.

Take Iran. The US slams on more sanctions, and Putin does a variation on Muhammad Ali’s “rope-a-dope” by doing what might be called “the nuke-a-duke,” saying with a straight face, “The latest steps taken by Iran have convinced us that Iran does not intend to produce nuclear arms.” Then he quickly delivers a real haymaker. “In this context, we will continue cooperation with Iran in all areas, including the nuclear energy field.”

Or take the proposed US missile defense in Eastern Europe. We jab with Washington’s belief that we need it to defend Europe and ourselves against a nuclear Iran or any other threat via the volatile Middle East, and the nations we propose installing it in cheer us on by saying they need it. Putin dodges the obvious, never mentioning the system is defensive, and then delivers a left cross, claiming, “Analogous actions by the Soviet Union, when it deployed missiles in Cuba, prompted the ‘Caribbean crisis.’” But now, light on his feet, he backs off, assuring us that he and Bush are friends and can solve these problems without a knockout.

How about Iraq? The US is punching away, hoping to bring democracy to a nation whose current leaders obviously prefer the deadly game of sectarian dominance. Putin takes a wild swing at us, stating, “One can wipe off a political map some tyrannical regime … but it’s absolutely pointless to fight with a people.” Then he delivers a low blow, commenting, “Russia, thank God, isn’t in Iraq.”

And on the home front, the kid is taking on all challengers.

Take the unfortunate Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of Yukos oil and once Russia’s richest man. He makes the flat-footed mistake of indicating he has political ambitions. With lightning speed, he’s arrested at gunpoint and slammed with charges of fraud and tax evasion. Now, the wide-open sap is out of contention, that is, out cold in the clinker.

In fact, Vladimir is such a deft puncher, he may be able to score a TKO on the Russian Constitution, which, inconveniently, bars him from seeking a third consecutive term. He feints to the right, saying, “I have said several times that I do not want to change the constitution to suit myself.” But then he jabs back with, “As far as my future job is concerned, I’m still undecided about where I’ll work and what I’ll do.”

Meanwhile, his team at ringside, United Russia, the ruling party, plans to make him its leading candidate for parliament.

Here’s the fight plan: Kid Kremlin becomes the prime minister, and the newly elected president is reduced to a figurehead. How’s that for a quick one, two punch? This kid could even double cross his own democracy.

Keep your eyes on him. He may only be 5′ 7″ but he packs quite a punch. In fact, until a new Muhammad Ali comes along, he’s the undeclared world maestro of the mitts.

Tom Attea, humorist and creator of NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway. Critics have called his writing “delightfully funny,” “witty,” with “good, genuine laughs” and “great humor and ebullience.”