In an exclusive BOXSPORT interview, Abass Baraou talks about his fight in Orlando, the long road to becoming WBA champion and his life in the USA – Part 2.
On March 1, 2024, you won the vacant European Championship title in the half-middle against Sam Eggington in England. Was that a turning point in your career?
Abass Baraou: I would say so. Wasserman gave me the opportunity to fight Sam Eggington in Telford last year. It was a tough task, but we all – the Sauerland brothers, my manager and I – were sure that I would win the fight. The victory also catapulted me further up the rankings.
You were also European champion in the amateurs in 2017.
My time with the amateurs was important, I was able to gain important experience there. I didn’t become European champion, but also won bronze at the World Championships and celebrated success at the Chemistry Cup. Even today, I always like to look back and take one or two things I learned in the amateurs before my next fight.
Back to the pros: the half-medium is currently regarded as one of the most exciting limits, with champions such as Sebastian Fundora, Bakhram Murtazaliev and Xander Zayas. What do you think you’ll be up against at the top of the world?
By winning this title, I have presented myself to the boxing world. I feel like I’ve entered the space where top-level fights like this are now possible. I want to compete with the best there and win as many titles as possible. Vergil Ortiz Jr., for example, is a great fighter. He would be a real challenge, a duel against him would help me progress in terms of sport. I would also fight Xander Zayas, I know him well from sparring. We’ve always said to each other that we’d meet at the top. He is now WBO world champion and I will soon be WBA. I would love to do a unification like that to grab another belt.
There is now also talk of a possible fight against Jermell Charlo. Attractive?
Jermell Charlo is a big name. He hasn’t boxed for two years, his last fight was against Canelo in 2023, which he lost unanimously on points. I’d fight Charlo in the USA in a heartbeat – I’m used to fighting abroad. No matter where I box, I feel at home anywhere in the ring.
Would you like to box in your home town of Oberhausen one day?
Yes, that’s a dream of mine. I will soon be world champion and a world championship fight in Oberhausen would fill my heart.
You were born in Germany, but have Togolese roots. What was your childhood like?
I was born in Aalen near Stuttgart, then grew up in Togo. I came back to Germany, to Oberhausen, when I was nine years old. My mother and brother live there, my father lives in London. I also have family in Tampa, Florida.
Where did the impetus for boxing come from?
I started boxing when I was 13 years old. I had tried other sports before, such as soccer and gymnastics at school, as well as athletics. But none of that really fulfilled me, especially as I wasn’t exhausted after training. At the time, I lived next to a youth center in Oberhausen, where I often went. When boxing was offered there, the supervisors said to my amateur trainer at the time, “Momi” Guettari: “That would be just the thing for Abass.
What were your first experiences like?
At first I thought boxing was boring. But then my trainer told me to hit a few combinations in the bag. He liked what I said so much that he thought I was already boxing. The coach then told me to come to his training session. Momi Guettari later became my coach at the boarding school in Münster.
Today you commute between Miami, where you train, and Germany. Why did you choose the USA as your training location?
I find good conditions in the USA. There are more sparring partners there who operate at an international level and a very large boxing community. After being in London for a while, I decided against returning to Germany because boxing is less popular here. And I thought to myself: Okay, the next trip has to be to the USA if I really want to give it another go. However, it’s a real challenge to train in the heat in Florida. But all this hard work is already having a positive effect, it’s just a nice confirmation.
You have family in Germany, England and the USA. Do such anchor points help in your Boxer life?
Yes, and if I don’t have a local family, I can still settle in well. No matter where I am, I make new friends quickly. There were also a lot of people from Miami who supported me in Orlando during my last fight.
Most recently, you were trained in Miami by former Cuban national coach Jorge Rubio. What is his focus and what boxing philosophy does Rubio stand for?
I split up with my coach at the camp. I then put together my own team, so to speak, to prepare for the fight against Tellez. I can’t yet say who will be in my corner in the future. I’ll take care of that in the near future, and Kalle and Nisse will also support me.
Interview by Frank Schwantes
Click here for the first part of the interview with Abass Baraou.