Boxer Sergey Kovalev is being charged with felony assault after allegedly punching a woman back in June and leaving her injured, according to a report from TMZ Sports. The boxer is claiming he is not guilty in the situation.
The former light heavyweight champion was arrested in Big Bear, California back on June 9th after a woman he met told police officers that he has punched her in the face. The woman says she suffered a concussion, a displaced disk in her neck, as well as a badly broken nose.
According to TMZ, the alleged assault took place after Kovalev attempted to hit on the woman at a party earlier in the evening. Sources say the woman had rejected Kovalev, which led him to follow her and her friend back to their cabin. That's when the alleged assault took place.
Kovalev is facing a maximum sentence of four years in prison as he is being charged with assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury. The Russian boxer has already appeared in court and has pleaded not guilty to the charge. He will be back in court in March.