Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou: A Unification Bout
Xander Zayas, the reigning WBO junior middleweight champion, is preparing to clash with fellow WBO titleholder Abass Baraou in a highly anticipated unification bout scheduled for January 31 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, located in San Juan. This matchup was first revealed by Tha Boxing Voice, with subsequent confirmation from ESPN sources.
Background on the Fighters
In a recent interview, Zayas, who established a marketing partnership with Bad Bunny’s Rimas Sports, hinted at an upcoming bout in his native Puerto Rico, mentioning that an opponent was yet to be named. With Baraou now confirmed as his rival, Zayas (22 wins, 0 losses, 13 knockouts) has a significant chance to unify the titles in his weight class.
Baraou, boasting a record of 17 wins, 1 loss, and 9 KOs, captured the interim WBA title in August by defeating Yoenis Tellez via a hard-fought unanimous decision. Following Terence Crawford‘s decision to vacate the title to fight against Canelo Alvarez, Baraou was elevated to full champion status. At 31 years of age, he has been on an impressive winning streak, claiming victory in eight consecutive matches since suffering a split decision defeat to Jack Culcay in August 2020. Currently, he is recognized as the No. 9 junior middleweight fighter in ESPN’s rankings.
Significance of the Fight
Notably, Zayas, now 23, holds the title of boxing’s youngest champion after winning the vacant WBO title from Jorge Garcia Perez by unanimous decision back in July. He is currently ranked fourth among junior middleweights by ESPN.
In preparation for the upcoming fight, Zayas is set to hold a press conference in San Juan, but details regarding the broadcasting platform for the bout have yet to be announced.
