No Fear on Enemy Ground: Abass Baraou Seeks Unification in Zayas’ Backyard

At 31 years old, WBA Super Welterweight Champion Abass Baraou believes he is just hitting his stride as a fighter. Months after upsetting previously unbeaten Yoenis Tellez to win his first world title, Baraou has his sights set on another highly-touted young fighter — Xander Zayas. Much like his previous bout, Baraou will enter the ring as an underdog, but he firmly believes he will exit the ring with yet another championship belt draped over his shoulder.

“Becoming a champion has made me hungrier. It hasn’t changed my personal life. I’m still focused on boxing. But seeing all the opportunities and the fights that can be made is amazing. It’s made me more focused and hungrier,” he told Top Rank while training in Miami, Florida. “Xander is very talented. He has a lot of skills. I’ve shared the ring with him many times. We’ve sparred a couple of times, so I know he has good footwork and lots of skills. But I've put the work in, and I'm ready to go to Puerto Rico and become a unified champion."

Not only will he be a betting underdog against a young, unbeaten fighter in a world title bout for the second consecutive fight, but he will also be heading into enemy territory yet again. Previously, Baraou fought for the WBA title at the Caribe Royale Orlando against Tellez, who had fought five of his previous seven fights at the venue. Now, he will compete for the WBO title in San Juan, Zayas’s hometown. Still, Baraou remains undeterred.

"I will always be myself in the ring. Even if the fight were in Germany, I’d have the same mindset,” Baraou explained. “I don’t care where the fight is. There’s a man I have to beat to accomplish my goals. The fight is in Puerto Rico, but it doesn’t add more pressure.”