by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Filipino Jetro 'Silent Operator' Pabustan, a 26 year old southpaw clashes with Thailand's WBO bantamweight champion Pungluang Sor Singyu of the big Onesongchai Gym who makes the first defense of his title at the Thao Suranari Monument in Nakhonratchisma,Thailand Friday.

The referee for the title fight will be Raul Caiz Jr from the U.S while the judges will be Takeo Harada and Katshuhiko Nakamura of Japan and  American judge Kermit Bayless.

WBO Asia Pacific head Leon Panoncillo who is based in Bangkok is the official supervisor.

The 27 year old Singyu  won the vacant WBO belt on August 20 last year when he beat Ryo Akaho of Japan and has a record of .51-3 with 35 knoxkouts..

He has a record of 51-3; 35 and is a two-time WBO bantamweight champion, having first won the vacant title on October 20, 2012, with a victory over AJ “Bazooka” Banal at the Mall of Asia Arena  in a fight where the southpaw .Banal was leading on points before losing by a technical knockout at 1:45 of the ninth round.

However, Pungluang he lost the belt in his first defense  against Namibia’s Paulus Ambunda in March 2013.

Since that setback Pungluang Sor Singyu has won eight fights and lost one to Tomoki Kameda when challenging for the WBO belt in July 2014.

Pabustan who has a record of  26-2-6; with 7 knockouts , but has not fought at the same level as the champion with no outstanding opponents.

The champion, who turned professional in September 2004, did not fight as an amateur but had a long Muay Thai career and has beaten several Filipino fighters including Rey Megrino, Paul Apolinario, Danilo Pena, Elmar Francisco, Marvin Tampos and many others.

Singyu is a come-forward pressure fighter with a 65 percent knockout ratio, whereas very little is known about the style of the southpaw Pabustan, who has only won seven of his fights inside the distance.

Pabustan, who is ranked at No 4 by the WBO, has a height advantage of 6cm and will be having his first fight outside the Philippines with the more  experienced champion a heavy favorite to win.