By Keith Idec

FRISCO, Texas – Sergey Kovalev couldn’t have been more relaxed Thursday.

The former WBO light heavyweight champion comfortably sat on a couch in his hotel room, at times laughing and joking during an exclusive interview with BoxingScene.com. Kovalev didn’t appear at all like someone headed toward an immediate rematch against an opponent, Eleider Alvarez, that knocked him out August 4.

The Russian contender certainly didn’t seem, either, like a maligned man facing a felony assault charge for allegedly punching a woman in June and an $8 million lawsuit.

When asked why he seemed so loose amid troublesome circumstances, Kovalev deferred to his manager, Egis Klimas, who was seated nearby. Before answering, Klimas admitted this is the most relaxed he has seen Kovalev this close to a fight.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this two days before a fight,” Klimas explained following a press conference. “He can fight tonight.”

The 35-year-old Kovalev (32-3-1, 28 KOs) will challenge Colombia’s Alvarez (24-0, 12 KOs) on Saturday night in the main event of an ESPN+ stream from Ford Center at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility (midnight ET/9 p.m. PT). They’ll fight for the WBO light heavyweight title Alvarez won when he knocked out Kovalev in the seventh round nearly six months ago at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Kovalev’s preparation for this important rematch hasn’t been disrupted, according to him and Klimas, since TMZ Sports first reported January 18 that he was arrested seven months ago in Big Bear Lake, California, after a woman informed authorities there that Kovalev punched her in the face.

Kovalev’s conscience is clear, Klimas explained, because the former champion is certain he is innocent.

“If it would be the truth, if it would be something serious, then you have to worry about it,” Klimas said. “But when you know it’s bullsh*t, then you know it’s somebody just trying to use you, somebody’s trying to use your name, and you understand that. Then it doesn’t come into your mind. Let’s say if I go and do something stupid, and I know the police are after me, I’m gonna get scared, right? I’m gonna think about how I’m gonna get away from it.

“But if I know I didn’t do anything wrong, why does it have to bother me? I have something to do. I have my personal life. I have my career to build. That’s why I think he’s not even thinking about it, or worried about it, because somebody said something. I can say something, also, a lot of things about it.”

The alleged victim, Jamie Frontz, claims Kovalev attacked her once she rejected his advances at a party earlier during the night in question.

Frontz told police Kovalev and one of his friends followed her back to her cabin, where the alleged attack took place. She said Kovalev first kicked her dog and then punched her.

She says his punch caused a badly broken nose, a concussion and a displaced disk in her neck.

Kovalev pled innocent to a charge of assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury. A probable cause hearing in this case is tentatively scheduled for some time in March.

If the case goes to trial and Kovalev gets convicted, he could serve a maximum of four years in prison.

TMZ Sports also revealed Wednesday that Frontz also has filed an $8 million lawsuit against Kovalev.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.