UK Boxing
Xander Zayas vs Abass Baraou – results and post-fight report
Published
3 months agoon
The World Boxing Championships were held at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in the main event, Xander Zayas defended his WBO super welterweight title for the first time and added the WBA crown with a split decision victory over Abass Baraou.
Zayas (23-0, KO13) won the vacant title last July, clearly outperforming him Jorge Garcia Perez in New Yorkwhile former European champion Baraou (17-2, KO9) has won eight straight fights since a split decision loss in 2020 to Jack Culcay in his native Germany, last August’s points victory over Yoenis Tellez that secured him the WBA belt.
Zayas handled his jab well in the first round while still striking at Baraou’s body, and he transitioned well from the body to the head in the second round before the German gained his own foothold in round three, pushing Zayas’ head back and landing a nice left hook.
Zayas’ footwork and movement caught the eye, but Baraou was hazardous, enjoying success in the fifth period and some good shots on the counterattack.
It was a back-and-forth battle, with rounds demanding to come by at times, so Zayas stepped on the gas, winning the first few rounds of the second half with fluid movement and shots.
In the ninth round, Zayas landed several combinations, increasing the pressure, but Baraou held robust, although Zayas now looked like he was a level ahead of his opponent.
The war continued until the last rounds, until the final bell, and the fight was decided on the cards.
One judge scored it 116-112 for Baraou, which looked like a very controversial card, but the other judges rightly disagreed and awarded the same to Zayas, ensuring he unified the titles.

Undercard remaining
On the card below, Giovani Santillan (35-1, KO18) scored a ten-round victory in a super welterweight fight against Courtney Pennington (17-12-3, KO7).
Santillan won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94.
In the middleweight division, Euri Cedeno (14-0-1, KO12) won all available sessions against Etoundi Michel William (16-3, KO12) over ten rounds.

In a six-round fight, Juanma Lopez De Jesus (5-0, KO2) scored a dominant victory over Super Flyweight and Super Featherweight Conner Russell Goode (8-5-2, KO7), while Carlos Jamil De Leon Castro (7-0, KO6) scored a last-round stoppage against Diuhl Olguin (17-48-7, KO10).
In the only four-round match, Yadriel Caban Gerena (3-0, KO3) won in the first set against Jeremis Hernandez-Torres (2-3, KO0).
The post Xander Zayas vs Abass Baraou – results and post-fight report appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
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UK Boxing
Dillian Whyte interested in rematch with Joseph Parker
Published
24 hours agoon
April 24, 2026
Dillian Whyte is eager to fight Joseph Parker again.
In 2018, Whyte and Parker played 12 invigorating rounds, with both hitting the canvas.
Whyte won his dramatic heavyweight fight by unanimous decision at the O2 Arena.
‘The Body Snatcher’ is now planning a rematch with the Recent Zealander, who is looking to clear his name after testing positive for cocaine following his October defeat to Fabio Wardley.
“There are a lot of good fights and Joseph Parker is one of them,” the 38-year-old said Ring Magazine.
“I would love to fight Joseph Parker, I think it’s a really good fight.
“He has to come back, he has to be cleared or whatever. I don’t know the situation.
“So in the meantime I have to stay busy and fight my way back, so let’s see.
“I feel like I still have a little bit to give, so let’s see what we can do to finish the season on a high.
“I’m training now and I want to come back in May or June.
“Now it’s just a matter of training and seeing what comes out on this kind of date.”

The former world title challenger from Brixton has not fought since a crushing first-round knockout defeat to rising contender Moses Itauma last August in Riyad.
Former world champion Parker won six times on spin before being stopped in the 11th round against Wardley, losing the WBO interim title and a shot at unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
The 34-year-old says he is going through this process after failing the test and hopes it will be resolved soon.

“Let’s hope so [I’m back] soon,” Parker said Professional boxing fans.
“I’m just going through the process and practicing patience.
“We just have to be patient and learn from what they say happened.
“I know what happened and I handed over everything, so let’s see.”
The post Dillian Whyte Eyes Joseph Parker Rematch appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
UK Boxing
“I was nervous” – Tony Yoka reacts to Lawrence Okolie’s failed test
Published
2 days agoon
April 23, 2026
Tony Yoka has broken his silence on Lawrence Okolie’s failed test that canceled their scheduled heavyweight fight.
On Saturday in Paris, Yoka was scheduled to face Okolie in a fierce heavyweight fight.
But on Tuesday, the Briton failed a VADA test, reportedly for GHRP 2 and its metabolite M8, a synthetic substance that stimulates the body to release human growth hormone.
Promoter Frank Warren tried to find a slow replacement, but later canceled the entire show.
Yoka (33) admits that he was bitterly disappointed with the situation.
“I was disappointed because I wanted to fight,” said the 33-year-old talkSPORT.
“Of course I was ready.
“It’s not like it happened a few months before, it was three, four days before the fight.

“It was a great opportunity.
“It would have put me in a really good position, so it really worried me.
“What was more disappointing to me was that they just canceled the entire show, but I understand it’s a business.”
The Frenchman says he won’t wait too long and has been told he will either fight on the card Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois May 9 in Manchester or on the bill Dave Allen vs Filip Hrgovic on May 16 in Doncaster.
Okolie, the WBC’s number one contender for Oleksandr Usyk’s title, promised in a statement to clear his name.
“Before anyone starts imagining the worst, after last year’s bicep injury, I suffered an elbow injury on the same shoulder during this camp.
“I underwent treatment and now we are here.
“I hope common sense will prevail.
“I will of course cooperate fully with all relevant authorities and I am confident that any investigation will clear my name.
“I will not be making any further comments at this time.
“Thank you for all your support and see you soon.”
The post “I Was Nervous” – Tony Yoka’s Reaction to Lawrence Okolie’s Failed Test appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
UK Boxing
David Benavidez is considering two names after Zurdo Ramirez
Published
2 days agoon
April 23, 2026
David Benavidez is already looking to the future ahead of next week’s showdown with Zurdo Ramirez.
Benavidez challenges Zurdo for his unified WBO and WBA cruiserweight world titles next Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, live on DAZN pay-per-view.
“The Mexican Monster” is moving up from lightweight heavyweight, where he holds the WBC crown, in a bid to become a three-division world champion.
An undisputed 175-pound title fight with Dmitry Bivol has so far eluded the undefeated 29-year-old, but he insists he will return to the weight class after the Ramirez fight in an attempt to lure Bivol to fight him.
“My plan wasn’t just to abandon the lightweight heavyweight division,” Benavidez said Ariel Helwani show.
“My plan was this [to] come up, win two titles, come back and make this fight with me and Bivol even bigger.
“My dream is to become unified champion.
“It would be wise for me to go back downstairs.”
Bivol, the holder of the remaining IBF, WBA and WBO belts, will defend his IBF title against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert on May 30 in Russia.
The 35-year-old won the undisputed crown, among others revenge victory over Artur Beterbiev in his last appearance last February.
The Russian gave up the WBC belt, which Benavidez currently holds, in pursuit of a third meeting with Beterbiev, which ultimately did not take place.

Benavidez, who stopped Anthony Yarde in Riyad in November, is also hoping to fight former undisputed lightweight heavyweight champion Beterbiev, who hasn’t fought since his only professional loss to Bivol.
“After this fight [against Bivol] when I win the titles,” he added.
“I’m going to fight Beterbiev.
“I’m probably most excited about Beterbiev.

“These are two monsters heading on a collision course.
“Beterbiev was a bogeyman for a long, long, long time.
“Being the monster I am, I have to go in there and get rid of the bogeyman.”
The post David Benavidez Eyeing Two Names After Zurdo Ramirez appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
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