Kovalev allegedly punched woman in the face

Former unified light heavyweight world titleholder Sergey Kovalev is facing four years in prison because of a felony assault charge.

According to court records, Kovalev was arrested on June 9 stemming from an incident in Big Bear Lake, California, in which he is accused of punching a woman in the face. Kovalev was released on $50,000 bail.

He was charged with assault likely to cause great bodily injury and on Aug. 27 pleaded not guilty.

TMZ reported Friday that Kovalev, who is married, met the victim at a party and after she rejected his advances, allegedly punched her, which resulted in a plethora of injuries, including a broken nose, a concussion, and a displaced disk in her neck.

The incident reportedly took place two months before Kovalev suffered a seventh-round knockout loss to Eleider "Storm" Alvarez in their Aug. 4 world title fight in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

After the defeat, Kovalev, a two-time light heavyweight titlist, exercised his contractual right to an immediate rematch. They are slated to fight again on Feb. 2 in the main event of a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN/ESPN+ card at the Ford Center at the Star -- the training facility of the Dallas Cowboys -- in Frisco, Texas.

Kovalev (32-3-1, 28 KO’s), 35, a Russia native fighting out of Los Angeles, is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on March 14.