Abass Baraou wants to land the next away coup this weekend and add the WBO title to his WBA title. In Puerto Rico, the half-middleweight will face the highly rated local hero Xander Zayas. BOXSPORT checks out Baraou’s chances.
Abass Baraou has the chance to write German boxing history early in the new year. In San Juan on January 31, the WBA world champion in the half-middleweight division will face the Puerto Rican WBO champion Xander Zayas. If Baraou wins, he would be the third German prizefighter after Dariusz Michalczewski and Sven Ottke to unify the titles of several federations.
The Zayas vs. Baraou duel is electrifying for many boxing fans, as two hungry world champions will face each other in the 69.85 kilogram limit. On paper, the fight promises to be a close one. Reason enough to take a closer look. BOXSPORT compares the rivals.
Experience
Zayas may have had four more professional fights, but Baraou has gained more experience in his career. The 31-year-old has been in the ring several times as a one-man away block against a local hero – and has always shown nerves of steel, as in his spectacular victory against Jake Paul protégé Yoenis Tellez in Orlando at the end of August. Zayas boxed almost exclusively in the USA, mostly “well protected” under the banner of his promoter Top Rank. One point speaks in Baraou’s favor: The man from Oberhausen has already gone the full distance of twelve rounds five times, including in action-packed duels with a high frequency of punches. Zayas only has one fight over all twelve rounds under his belt.
Fighting style
Zayas does not operate in the classic Latino style of an offensive machine, but methodically behind his long lead hand. He rarely loses his balance and attaches great importance to a solid defense. In his attacks, Zayas alternates …
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Text: Martin Armbruster