The little guys of the Strawweight division round out the LSUBF, and the championship tournament to kick off the weight class after preliminary bouts set up with #1 seed Eagle Den Jalapan (12-0, 8 KO), followed by Oleydong Sithsamerchai (12-1, 9 KO), light-hitting Isaac Bustos (10-0, 0 KO) and Muhammad Rachman (11-1, 4 KO).
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The powerless Bustos hoped to work though Sithsamerchai's attacking pace. The bout turns into a festival of defense and precision, but with a shot at the title on the line it was presumed the final two rounds would pick up the pace. Presumptions were wrong, and a snoozeville rounds 11 and 12 as paceless end to a solid, competitive fight. The cards...115-114 Bustos, 115-114 Sithamerchai...115-114 for the winner, advancing to the PBA Strawweight championship bout...OLEYDONG SITHSAMERCHAI!!!
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The other semifinal would spark a lone occurrence in the tournament phase of the LSUBF...Den Janlaphan dropped Rachman less than a minute into the fight, then again in the 5th. Rachman picks it up starting in the 6th, but the only two rounds he clearly takes are 6 and 11, which with the two knockdowns would figure to leave him on the short end. But the judges inexplicably yield a majority draw, meaning the duo would have to fight again to set up the title fight.
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In a bout that by all estimation was closer than the first fight, the rematch yields a decision, as Den Jalapan doesn't presume victory late as he did in the first, closing with a strong final three rounds on his way to a majority decision, 115-113 (x2), 114-114.
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The title fight brings controversy with it as well. A feeling out process for the first minute ends when Den Janlaphan doubles up on the hook nicely, sparking Sithsamerchai into action and a furious exchange in mid-ring. Den Janlaphan gets the better of it but gets careless in his pursuit, taking a glancing hook followed a powerful cross that puts him down late in the round. It was more about balance than pain and he's up quickly, but the knockdown costs him a round that was his.
An even 2nd takes a turn two minutes in when the fighters clash heads in what is ultimately ruled an intentional butt from Sithsamerchai that splits Den Janlaphan right down the center of the right eyebrow. The doc says he can continue, but it's obviously giving him trouble. Sithsamerchai targets away and the gash is opened wider as a result. But the doc again says to go at it, and Den Janlaphan attacks, pummeling Sithsmaerchai in the final 30 seconds.
Den Janlaphan's corner does brilliant work on the cut, and the third opens with him looking fresh and ready. Soon, he's landed a hard combination that opens a cut from Sithsamerchai on the inside of his right eyebrow, and blood flows again, though the cut seems minor. They measure each other for a while before a combination from Sithsamerchai draws blood from Den Janlaphan again, reopening the wound and the blood is a geyser all of a sudden.
The doc checks it again this time waves it off. But the issue at hand is the cut being caused initially by the intentional butt. The ruling from the ref, though, is the punch caused the new damage, and as a result Sithsamerchai wins via TKO as Den Janlaphan's corner goes collectively apoplectic. The postfight interview is a demand for a rematch that went unanswered.
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The aftermath would be chaotic. Sithsamerchai defended successfully against Jose Antonio Aguirre (KO 12) before dropping the belt in his second defense to Songkram Porpaoin when Sithsamerchai was disqualified in the 12th round for an intentional butt. Porpaoin would make a successful defense against Miguel Barrera (MD 15) before the rematch, which would lead to a postfight brawl in the ring after Sithsamerchai was disqualified again, this time for a blatant low blow in the 10th - but which was preceded by Porpaoin getting a point deducted for a low blow a round prior.
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After all that chaos, Porpaoin wouldn't defend for a year until being forced to face #1 contender Bustos, who would win the title via majority decision 145-141, 144-142, 143-143. He'd then grant Porpaoin his remach immediately, and top him again, this time via unanimous decision.
Bustos would successfully defend against Joma Gamboa before an odd choice to defend against unranked Jorge Mata. But Mata would take Bustos the distance, and do so in terrific fashion, nearly pulling off the incredible upset. Bustos escaped with a draw and his title.
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He would not be so lucky four months later when Nikosinathi Joyi took the title, knocking Bustos out in the 10th round. Bustos is entitled to a rematch, but Joyi first elected to defend against Porpaoin, whom he defeated by split decision in November 2012. He'll have until August 2013 to defend against Bustos.
