WBO junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas is wasting no time; instead of choosing a voluntary defense, he will head straight into a unification fight on January 31 in Puerto Rico against WBA champion Abass Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs).
On Monday morning, Zayas’ promoter Top Rank issued a press release announcing the upcoming fight at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan. The 23-year-old Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) from San Juan, P.R., is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Jorge Garcia, which earned him the WBO title. There were rumors of a fight against Giovani Santillan but credit to Zayas and his team for securing a unification bout instead, which is riskier but more rewarding if he wins.
There is a press conference scheduled for Wednesday in Puerto Rico to officially announce the fight and any other details related to the event. One of those details that might be announced is where fans will be able to watch the fight, as Zayas’ promoter Top Rank has not yet secured a media rights deal. Will that be announced on Wednesday, or is it something that will be saved for another day? What we do know is that Zayas is in a major fight, and a win could set him up for a big year in 2026.
Here are some quotes from Top Rank’s Bob Arum, Zayas and Baraou.
“From the moment Xander Zayas won his world title, it was clear that his first title defense had to take place in Puerto Rico,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “The fact that he’ll be facing a fellow champion in front of a packed arena in San Juan makes it that much more special. The Puerto Rican fans are passionate and loyal and deserve to see their champion return home. This is not a routine title defense. Abass Baraou is a determined champion, an experienced road warrior who will embrace the challenge of fighting on Xander’s home turf.”
“On January 31, we’ll fulfill another dream. This time, I’ll be fighting on my island,” Zayas said. “I’m going to unify two world titles in front of my people at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. We’re going to make history together. See you there!”
“Xander is a great talent, and I give him full credit for stepping up and accepting this fight. Not everyone would take that risk, especially at this stage, but that’s what makes this matchup special. He has his country behind him, and I respect that, because I know what it means to carry that responsibility into the ring,” Baraou said. “I’m preparing to go into Puerto Rico, bring some real heat, and show the world that I’m a true force in this division. I’m not coming just to show up. I’m coming to make a statement, leave with another belt, and maybe even earn a few new Puerto Rican fans on the way out. When it’s all said and done, the world will know who the top dog at 154 really is.”
Discover more from Fights Around The World
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
