Xander Zayas further solidified his reputation as one of boxing’s most rapidly evolving champions, unifying his WBO title with Abass Baraou’s WBA crown in a compelling super welterweight clash.
Zayas’ superior footwork and precise combination punching proved decisive, carrying him to a split-decision victory over Baraou and adding the WBA junior middleweight title to his growing résumé. The bout served as the first successful defense of Zayas’ WBO belt and headlined Saturday night’s card at the Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The judges scored the contest 116–112 twice in favor of Zayas, while a controversial third card inexplicably awarded the same margin to Baraou.
Competing in Puerto Rico for the first time as a reigning champion—and only the second time in his professional career—Zayas opened the fight with poise and authority, operating smoothly from the outside. Baraou, a relentless pressure fighter from Oberhausen, Germany, pushed forward with intent, forcing Zayas to remain engaged. Still, Zayas dictated the early tempo, gliding around the ring as Baraou struggled to generate sustained offense. Crisp counterpunching and lightning-fast hands defined Zayas’ dominance through the opening rounds.
Momentum began to shift in the fifth, as the 31-year-old Baraou intensified his pressure and found success landing shots—something he had failed to do consistently earlier in the fight. Zayas, just 23, responded with composure, returning to disciplined outside boxing while Baraou grew increasingly aggressive in search of openings.
By the seventh round, Baraou’s persistence began to yield results, as his forward march allowed him to connect more frequently. Zayas answered emphatically in the ninth, unleashing his sharpest combinations of the night and igniting the partisan crowd. Ultimately, it was Zayas’ constant movement and ring control that proved too elusive for Baraou—right up until the final round.
In the 12th, Zayas chose spectacle over safety, standing his ground and trading in the center of the ring. Though he could have boxed conservatively to secure victory, Zayas instead rewarded the fans with a spirited exchange, toe-to-toe with Baraou until the final bell.
Afterward, the former sparring partners shared an embrace, a moment of mutual respect punctuating a hard-fought battle between two warriors.
With the win, Zayas improved to 23–0 (13 KOs) and became the youngest unified champion in boxing. Baraou fell to 17–2 (9 KOs), surrendering his title in the first defense of his reign.
Discover more from Fights Around The World
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
