Rico Verhoeven revealed he knew the official scorecards every four rounds during his recent fight. After four rounds, the cards showed an even contest, though Verhoeven felt he was winning at least 3-1. The scorecards remained even after another four rounds, which Verhoeven described as feeling fishy.
Rico Verhoeven has publicly questioned the accuracy of the official scoring from his most recent fight, revealing he received real-time scorecard updates every four rounds and found the tallies difficult to reconcile with how he felt the bout was unfolding.
The Dutch heavyweight, nicknamed "The King of Kickboxing," told his side of the story after the cards showed an even contest at the four-round mark — a reading that surprised him, as he believed he had taken the round count at least three to one in his favor. When the scoring remained level after a further four rounds, Verhoeven described the situation as feeling fishy, stopping short of making a formal accusation but leaving little doubt about his skepticism.
Verhoeven, 37, is one of the most accomplished strikers in kickboxing history, carrying a record of 66 wins and 10 losses. Standing six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach, the orthodox fighter from the Netherlands has long been the dominant figure in the heavyweight kickboxing landscape and trains out of Superpro Sportcenter. His physical advantages and experience make him a credible voice when it comes to assessing his own performance inside the ring.
Why it matters
- Scorecard transparency is a recurring issue in combat sports, and Verhoeven's comments add high-profile attention to the debate.
- A fighter of his record and stature questioning official tallies mid-fight raises questions about the judging criteria being applied at heavyweight.
- The remarks may prompt further scrutiny of the event's scoring process from fans and officials alike.
