Kovalev Charged With Felony Assault, Allegedly Punched Woman

[Enlightened-One]

"Kovalev Charged With Felony Assault, Allegedly Punched Woman"

Former light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev has been charged with felony assault for allegedly punching a woman in the face back in June -- but he claims he's not guilty ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Here's what we know ... the Russian fighter was arrested in Big Bear, CA on June 9 after a woman told police the feared puncher struck her in the face, causing serious injuries.

Sources connected to the case tell us ... the woman is claiming Kovalev had hit on her at a party earlier in the evening but rejected his advances. She claims Sergey and a friend followed her back to her cabin and that's where the alleged attack occurred.

We're told the woman claims she suffered major injuries including a severely broken nose, a concussion and a displaced disk in her neck.

Cops tell TMZ Sports ... they began searching for Kovalev immediately and arrested him a short time later.

He was charged with assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury -- which carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison.

Kovalev appeared in court and entered a not guilty plea.

What's interesting ... Kovalev fought Eleider Álvarez in August -- just 2 months after the arrest -- and lost in a shocking upset.

Kovalev is due back in court in March. He also has a rematch with Alvarez lined up for Feb. 2.

We've reached out to Kovalev for comment -- so far, no word back.

Thoughts?

[Cent0089]

With sh!t like this, he will take another L

[caldo2025]

I’ll choose to wait on the outcome of this case before I tear Kovalev one but this news is horrible. It’s such quick trip from the top of this sport to the bottom for some of these idiots.

[Blodhemn]

With sh!t like this, he will take another L

Dude is done regardless. Definite bully mentality/rags to riches, losing dedication. Story wouldn't surprise me if true. Fairly typical drunken Russian endeavor.

[Nondescript]

With sh!t like this, he will take another L

Dude is done regardless. Definite bully mentality/rags to riches, losing dedication. Story wouldn't surprise me if true. Fairly typical drunken Russian endeavor.

He's supposed to be a raging alcoholic and drinks heavily even throughout training camps. No wonder he looks about 50.

[Blodhemn]

He's supposed to be a raging alcoholic and drinks heavily even throughout training camps. No wonder he looks about 50.

So much for the spiritual change. Always suspicious of those adult converts. You know something isn't right upstairs when religion is needed to circumvent a life already formed. Just a facade.

[chuck9788]

Is Kovalev a dual American citizen? If not, I can see a possible "deportation" in his future.

[Enlightened-One]

I’m normally rather sceptical about any news published by TMZ, as they tend to imply that any gossip they report should be assumed by their readers as being the “truth”, but unfortunately the same “Kovalev felony assault” story has been reported by other sources, which leads me to believe that this might be a legitimate matter.

For the time-being, I’ll assume Krusher’s innocence until the outcome of his March court-date is known.

I do know that Sergey has a reputation for being a heavy drinker and he has also repeatedly made racist, bigoted and misogynistic comments in the past, so he’s very familiar with attracting controversy, which means I doubt that this matter will play on his mind to the point it adversely affects his performance during his rematch with Eleider Alvarez.

If this story is true, then I hope Sergey's fanbase withdraws their support and the Russian receives a heavy punishment, because the crime that he’s allegedly committed superficially seems rather atrocious.

[DrDuke]

If it was true, he would have probably been already out from the US. Or does a Russian have some other opportunities in this case acknowledging the today's political issues between Russia and the USA?

[Enlightened-One]

If it was true, he would have probably been already out from the US.

There’s due process that has to be performed. And sometimes matters like this take a long time to progress to court.

You’ve made a valid point though, because if Krusher had committed a particularly vile crime then his court case would have been expedited.

I guess we’ll just have to wait until March to find out whether Sergey is guilty or not.

[oogiebe]

I won't judge.

[TheGingerBomber]

If true, terrible and shocking. Won’t go to jail but will probably have to pay a lot of compensation is my guess.

Shame he didn’t punch Claressa Shields.

[Onetimeonly]

I’m normally rather sceptical about any news published by TMZ, as they tend to imply that any gossip they report should be assumed by their readers as being the “truth”, but unfortunately the same “Kovalev felony assault” story has been reported by other sources, which leads me to believe that this might be a legitimate matter.

For the time-being, I’ll assume Krusher’s innocence until the outcome of his March court-date is known.

I do know that Sergey has a reputation for being a heavy drinker and he has also repeatedly made racist, bigoted and misogynistic comments in the past, so he’s very familiar with attracting controversy, which means I doubt that this matter will play on his mind to the point it adversely affects his performance during his rematch with Eleider Alvarez.

If this story is true, then I hope Sergey's fanbase withdraws their support and the Russian receives a heavy punishment, because the crime that he’s allegedly committed superficially seems rather atrocious.

Odd stance coming from a rabid Stevenson fan.

[Nondescript]

I’m normally rather sceptical about any news published by TMZ, as they tend to imply that any gossip they report should be assumed by their readers as being the “truth”, but unfortunately the same “Kovalev felony assault” story has been reported by other sources, which leads me to believe that this might be a legitimate matter.

For the time-being, I’ll assume Krusher’s innocence until the outcome of his March court-date is known.

I do know that Sergey has a reputation for being a heavy drinker and he has also repeatedly made racist, bigoted and misogynistic comments in the past, so he’s very familiar with attracting controversy, which means I doubt that this matter will play on his mind to the point it adversely affects his performance during his rematch with Eleider Alvarez.

If this story is true, then I hope Sergey's fanbase withdraws their support and the Russian receives a heavy punishment, because the crime that he’s allegedly committed superficially seems rather atrocious.

The funniest thing was how in the past you used to see people saying that if him and Stevenson had have fought; they hoped he would put Stevenson into a coma because of the terrible things Stevenson did in the past, like Kovalev was some hero of the good guys ha.

[chuck9788]

I met Kovalev once. He was super nice. I fist bumped him and it felt like my fist hit a sharp rock.

[jamamb]

russian jurg brahmer?

[Onetimeonly]

Not that I condone that behavior but fans always come down on guys they don't like to begin with for peds or hitting women. Half of them will call srr the goat without a clue that he was a monster.

[Enlightened-One]

I’m normally rather sceptical about any news published by TMZ, as they tend to imply that any gossip they report should be assumed by their readers as being the “truth”, but unfortunately the same “Kovalev felony assault” story has been reported by other sources, which leads me to believe that this might be a legitimate matter.

For the time-being, I’ll assume Krusher’s innocence until the outcome of his March court-date is known.

I do know that Sergey has a reputation for being a heavy drinker and he has also repeatedly made racist, bigoted and misogynistic comments in the past, so he’s very familiar with attracting controversy, which means I doubt that this matter will play on his mind to the point it adversely affects his performance during his rematch with Eleider Alvarez.

If this story is true, then I hope Sergey's fanbase withdraws their support and the Russian receives a heavy punishment, because the crime that he’s allegedly committed superficially seems rather atrocious.

Odd stance coming from a rabid Stevenson fan.

You’re lying! There's no reason for you to accuse me of being an Adonis Stevenson fan. If you think I am, then prove otherwise. You won't do this, because you can't - it's impossible.

I do admit to challenging the fact that the Canadian was accused of “ducking” the Russian by many Krusher die-hards, even though it was actually Sergey Kovalev that rejected a guaranteed opportunity to face the Canadian. He refused to take part in the WBC’s purse bid, even though his promoter had lobbied the WBC to instate him as the mandatory challenger for their title.

Are you claiming that this didn’t happen?

Are you claiming that Sergey Kovalev hasn’t been charged with felony assault?

Are you also claiming that Sergey Kovalev doesn’t have a reputation for being a heavy drinker and that he hasn’t repeatedly made racist, bigoted and misogynistic comments in the past?

Come on kid, do your best! Let’s see you attempt to tackle these points head-on!

[Onetimeonly]

I'm stating that you're a hypocrite. Stevenson fights for Pbc. You're a pbc fan over any individual fighter.

[boxing_rocks]

Let's also hope Alvarez KOs him again.

[Onetimeonly]

Not me, I hope kovalev comes back.

[Enlightened-One]

I'm stating that you're a hypocrite. Stevenson fights for Pbc. You're a pbc fan over any individual fighter.

So you're admitting that you've lied? You actually claimed I was a "rabid Stevenson fan".

[Enlightened-One]

"Russian boxer Sergey Kovalev charged with assault with a deadly weapon in California after 'breaking a woman's nose and leaving her with a concussion and displaced disc'"

• Former light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev has been charged with assault for allegedly punching a woman in Big Bear California last summer
• The 35-year-old Kovalev pleaded innocent to charges of assault
• A police spokesman told the Daily Mail he was arrested on June 9 for assault with a deadly weapon, and was later released after he posted bond that same day
• The woman reportedly rejected the married Kovalev's advances at a party before he and a friend followed her to her cabin, where she was allegedly assaulted
• The arrest was not known publicly in August, when Kovalev was upset by Columbia's Eleider Álvarez. The two will face off in a rematch on February 2
• Like many other boxers, Kovalev frequently trains in Big Bear

Russian boxer and former light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon for an incident in Big Bear California on June 9 that reportedly left a woman with a broken nose, a concussion, and displaced disc in her neck.

Police confirmed to the Daily Mail that Kovalev was arrested before posting bond and being released later that day.

According to TMZ, Kovalev pleaded innocent to charges of assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury.

TMZ reported that Kovalev punched the woman in the face.

The woman reportedly rejected the married Kovalev's advances at a party before he and a friend followed her to her cabin, where she was allegedly assaulted.

Kovalev's promoter has yet to respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

The arrest was not known publicly in August, when Kovalev was upset by Columbia's Eleider Álvarez. The two will face off in a rematch on February 2.

Like Kazakh and former middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, Kovalev frequently trains in Big Bear, which hosts many boxers throughout the year.

Kovalev (32-3) reached the pinnacle of his career when he earned a pair of fights against American light heavyweight champion Andre Ward, but he ultimately lost a controversial decision to Ward in 2016 before falling by TKO in 2017.

During the lead-up to the rematch, Kovalev drew criticism for making tweets that included racist and homophobic slurs.

The Russian former champion is known for his power as a remarkable 28 of Kovalev's 32 wins have come by knockout.

Kovalev reportedly has a wife, Natalya, and a young son, Aleksandr.

[Counter-puncher]

what's really important, Rain Man, is that every time you refer to Kovalev, you must, please, make sure to call him 'The Russian' at least once per post.

otherwise some of us might get the wrong idea.

we might forget what country Kovalev comes from, we might think he's from China or Djibouti or something.

for god's sake please don't let that anarchy and chaos descend on us, please continue writing in that pompous quasi-journalistic style of yours, its cute.

[Enlightened-One]

what's really important, Rain Man, is that every time you refer to Kovalev, you must, please, make sure to call him 'The Russian' at least once per post.

otherwise some of us might get the wrong idea.

we might forget what country Kovalev comes from, we might think he's from China or Djibouti or something.

for god's sake please don't let that anarchy and chaos descend on us, please continue writing in that pompous quasi-journalistic style of yours, its cute.

The last post was a quote from an article from The Mail website - I even supplied a direct hyperlink to the origial article.

I can also provide you with their email address, so you can send them a message mocking their journalistic writing style, if you want?

Learn to read or learn to remain quiet. Preferably, do both!