UNDEFEATED prospect Richard Laspona will face the stiffest test of his career next month in what could be a defining moment for his boxing journey.
Laspona is scheduled to fight two-time Olympic gold medalist Hasanboy Dusmatov in Kyrgyzstan on July 20, 2025, in a bout that could change the course of his professional trajectory.
One of the promising up-and-comers from the PMI Bohol Boxing Gym, Laspona turned pro in 2023 and quickly made a name for himself by winning all three of his fights that year.
The following year, Laspona was active inside the ring and fought four times, capping off 2024 with a third-round stoppage of one-time world title challenger Vergilio Silvano -- his most experienced opponent to date.
Laspona has already fought once this year, scoring a convincing unanimous decision victory over Justine Degamo in Toledo City.
On the other side of the ring, Dusmatov boasts an extensive experience fighting in the amateur ranks, where he had close to 150 bouts. He reached the pinnacle in the amateur level by winning two gold medals in the Olympics and a gold medal in the world championships.
Dusmatov turned pro in 2019, making an explosive debut in Mexico where he stopped Mexican Jesus Cervantes in the second round. He followed that up with a first-round technical knockout of Odiljon Sotkinov in Russia.
In just his third pro fight, Dusmatov claimed the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) International light-flyweight title with a third-round finish of Muhsin Kizota in Uzbekistan.
Since then, he has remained unbeaten, notching victories against veteran Jose Rivas, Mosises Caro and experienced Siphamandla Baleni.
Dusmatov is currently ranked No. 8 by the WBA.
Laspona is 8-0 with five knockouts, while Dusmatov is 6-0 with five knockouts. / EKA