Kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven says he wants another shot at heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk after their recent exhibition clash ended in controversy.
The Dutch fighter, widely regarded as one of the biggest names in kickboxing, believes he was unfairly treated by officials and has called for an apology following the bout.
Verhoeven faced Usyk in a crossover contest that generated major attention from combat sports fans around the world. While Usyk was awarded the result, Verhoeven argued that several decisions during the fight went against him and affected the outcome.
The 36-year-old said he remains convinced he can compete with the Ukrainian champion and insisted the fight should happen again under clearer conditions.
Verhoeven has dominated kickboxing for years, building a reputation as one of the sport’s most complete heavyweights. Moving into the boxing spotlight against an elite opponent like Usyk was seen as one of the toughest tests of his combat career.
Usyk, meanwhile, continues to sit at the top of the heavyweight division after cementing his status as one of boxing’s leading pound-for-pound fighters. The unbeaten Ukrainian has already defeated Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua during his professional career and remains one of the sport’s biggest attractions.
Despite the defeat, Verhoeven said the experience only increased his desire to return to the boxing ring. He added that he still believes fans would be interested in seeing a rematch because of the debate surrounding the first encounter.
No official talks over a second fight have been confirmed, but Verhoeven made it clear he wants another opportunity to prove himself against the unified heavyweight champion.