Kovalev's Twitter post of this photo, with the accompanying comment, crossed the line (Journal de Québec)

The behind-the-scenes travails behind trying to set up a light-heavyweight unification title fight between Russia's Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev and Quebec's Adonis "Superman" Stevenson, when it's all over, might prove to be just as intriguing as the fight itself.

(More on that here)

But in the meantime, as Main Events and Yvon Michel's GYM organization go back and forth about broadcast networks, location, purse split and all the rest, the two boxers have a little time on their hands and they've been jousting over social media.

And then, Kovalev crossed the line. A big, fat line.

View photos

(The pic above, with the kid's face obscured, was taken from this Journal de Québec column by noted sports columnist and personality Réjean Tremblay. We republish it here to respect the boy's privacy).

The Tweet was swiftly deleted. But the damage was done.

Stevenson has been having fun on his Facebook page. But his worst offence seems to have been to compare Kovalev to a Duck Dynasty redneck.

View photos Stevenson has been taking fairly good-natured jabs at Kovalev, as discussions for a big unification title fight between the two stall. (Facebook) More

View photos Stevenson has been taking fairly good-natured jabs at Kovalev, as discussions for a big unification title fight between the two stall. (Facebook) More

Stevenson's promoter, Michel, was in Haiti finalizing details for Stevenson's next fight, scheduled to be held in late June. He said this to Journal de Montréal columnist Réjean Tremblay:

"What he did was idiotic. It was a major lack of judgment. But you will discover to what extent Sergey Kovalev is petty and narrow-minded. I'm not sure people are going to find him likeable for very long."

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