WBO/WBA/IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (30-0, 26KOs) has a rejected the circulating rumors that he was battered and dropped by Gennady Golovkin (36-0, 33KOs), who holds the IBO/IBF/WBA/WBC titles at 160, during a sparring session several years ago.

The sparring session took place when both fighters were trained by Abel Sanchez. Kovalev eventually left Sanchez and hired current coach John David Jackson.

Kovalev is deep in preparations for the fight of his life, when he defends his titles against Andre Ward on November 19th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas,

Kovalev claims the story has been exaggerated, and he seems to point the finger at Sanchez for blowing it out of proportion with the media.

"Did you see it yourself? Then don't believe this trash. I don't want to explain who said this trash talking. Somebody's coach, somebody's coach when I leave his training camp he was disappointed. He was very disappointed when I leave his training camp," Kovalev said.

Kovalev's promoter, Kathy Duva of Main Events, points out that her boxer was only an eight round fighter who was coming up in the ranks when that sparring session too place, while Golovkin was already a world champion and one of the top fighters at 160-pounds.

"During the period of time that this did or did not happen, Sergey was an eight round fighter and Golovkin was a world champion. Sparring stories should stay in the gym," Duva said.