WBA junior middleweight champion Abass Baraou (17-1, 9 KO) will hit the road again to face WBO 154-pound titleholder Xander Zayas (22-0, 13 KO) on January 31, 2026 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Top Rank, organizers of the Baraou vs. event Zayas, there is no information about the January 31st broadcast platform. Boxing fans will be interested.
Top Rank’s long-running eight-year broadcast contract with ESPN ended on July 26, 2025. They have been without a home since then. Surprisingly, they found no other broadcast platform where their talented players could showcase their skills.
Can Zayas withstand the heat?
The 31-year-old German Baraou will enter enemy territory to take the WBO title from the 23-year-old, inexperienced Puerto Rican Xander in his first defense of the crown. This is a fight where Baraou will need a good set of wheels to keep up with Zayas as he is mobile and tends to hold up a lot.
Baraou looked outstanding in his last fight, defeating interim WBA 154-pound champion Yoenis Tellaz by unanimous decision of 12 rounds in a spotless war on August 23, 2025. A month later on September 21, the WBA elevated Baraou to the full junior middleweight title after previous champion Terence Crawford vacated the title.
Objections and complaints
Zayas won the vacant WBO 154-pound title in his last fight, defeating Jorge Garcia Perez via 12-round unanimous decision on July 26, 2025, at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York.
This wasn’t a fun fight to watch unless you like to see movement and a lot of holding. This was the tactic Xander used to neutralize Marqarito’s pressure and Garcia Perez’s inside skills.
The 23-year-old Zayas is no match for Puerto Rican talents of the past, Felix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto. As far as Chris Williams can tell, Zayas’ fighting style is nothing like these champions. If Xander held back and moved less, he would have a better chance of matching these retired legends.
Baraou’s statement
“I fully appreciate him for stepping up and accepting this fight. Not everyone would take such a risk, especially at this stage, but that’s what makes this fight special,” Baraou said. “I’m getting ready to go to Puerto Rico, I’m going to bring some real heat and show the world that I’m a real force in this division. I’m not coming just to show off. I’m coming to make a statement and leave with another belt.”
For Barou to win, he will need to have quick feet to catch up to Zayas as he will be on the move throughout the match. Abass will also need an answer to the clinching that Zayas will be using, as it is a gigantic part of his game.
Chris Williams is a senior writer for Boxing News 24covering sports since 2013 and reporting on major events around the world. His relationships range from established champions to hungry prospects vying for recognition. Over the years, Chris has worked with many of boxing’s top brass, earning respect for his insightful analysis and insider perspective.