WBA world champion Abass Baraou wants to return to the ring this year and is also negotiating a new contract with Wasserman Boxing. However, the 30-year-old German doesn’t want to wait too long for a unification either.
Wasserman Boxing, long-time promoter of Abass Baraou, apparently wants to continue working with the new WBA light middleweight champion in the future. This was reported by Boxingscene with reference to the promotion’s social channels. According to the report, Wasserman wants to support Baraou’s “priorities” following his victorious fight against Yoenis Tellez.
Title unification as a goal
Baraou, who was named the new full champion in the half-middleweight division by the WBA following Crawford’s move to the super-middle, already commented on his further plans in the BOXSPORT interview . “I’d like to get into the ring before the end of the year – a title defense,” the 30-year-old from Oberhausen told BoxingScene. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m currently preparing myself – contacting my trainers and also redrafting my promoter contract. Because my last fight was the last [of my previous contract] with Wasserman. We are in talks about a contract extension.”
The German WBA world champion would also accept his next fight as the starting point for a new contract with Wasserman, managed by Kalle Sauerland as Global Head of Boxing. “Maybe that’s also part of the contract extension,” said Baraou. “I know that we are also at the end of the year and that is a big wish of mine. And if not at the end of this year, then at the beginning of next year.”
Against Zayas? “Would be ready immediately”
“Either I defend my title or I try to unify it.” Baraou would be ready for a duel with WBO champion Xander Zayas, with whom he has already fought several sparring sessions in the past – “either immediately or next year. There are many options for me now. I want to get into the top fights right away.”
In contrast, a title unification with IBF world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev does not appear to be an issue for the time being – at least not for Wasserman. The promotion is planning a duel between “Mandatory” Josh Kelly, currently number three in the IBF, and the former conqueror of Jack Culcay for December. The WBC half-middleweight belt is currently held by Sebastian Fundora. The 27-year-old American last defeated Tim Tszyu in a rematch in July, but will probably first have to make a mandatory defense against interim champ Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Text: Frank Schwantes