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Sergey Kovalev has some legal issues heading into his scheduled rematch with Eleider Alvarez. TMZ reported today that Kovalev was arrested back on June 9th for allegedly punching a woman in the face, causing serious injuries, and has been charged with felony assault. Kovalev denies claims.
Sources suggest that Kovalev was hitting on the woman at a party, with the woman rejecting his advances. It’s said that Kovalev and a friend then followed the woman back to her cabin in Big Bear, CA, where the alleged attack took place. The woman says she suffered a broken nose, a concussion, and a displaced disk in her neck as a result of the altercation.
After the woman called police they began searching for him immediately, and arrested him shortly thereafter. Kovalev was specifically charged with assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury — a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 4 years of jail time. Kovalev is scheduled to appear back in court in March to face the charges, but his upcoming fight against Alvarez is said not to be in danger of getting canceled at this time.