Puerto Rico’s youngest world champion Xander Zayas will begin 2026 with a major homecoming as he faces Abass Baraou in a junior middleweight world title unification bout on January 31 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan. The 23-year-old WBO titleholder meets the WBA champion in what will be only the second unification fight ever staged on Puerto Rican soil, following Ivan Calderon vs. Giovani Segura in 2010. The event is promoted by Top Rank, in association with ICON+, Move Concerts, and Noah Assad Presents.
Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) has risen from teenage prodigy to national pride, capturing his first world title less than six years after turning professional at 17. His climb through the ranks included stoppage wins over Elias Espadas and decision victories over Alexis Salazar and Jorge Garcia. “On January 31, we'll fulfill another dream. This time, I'll be fighting on my island,” Zayas said. “I’m going to unify two world titles in front of my people at Coliseo de Puerto Rico. We’re going to make history together.”
Watch Zayas vs. Garcia highlights.
Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs), born in Togo and raised in Germany, brings international pedigree and momentum. The 2017 European gold medalist and World Championship bronze medalist has won eight straight since his lone defeat in 2020. His breakthrough came in August when he dethroned Cuba’s Yoenis Tellez for the WBA title and was later elevated to full champion. “Xander is a great talent, and I give him credit for stepping up,” Baraou said. “I’m coming to make a statement, leave with another belt, and show the world who the top dog at 154 really is.”
Watch Tellez vs. Baraou highlights.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum praised the magnitude of the event: “From the moment Xander Zayas won his world title, it was clear that his first defense had to take place in Puerto Rico. This is not a routine title defense. Baraou is a determined champion and will embrace the challenge of fighting on Xander’s home turf.”
The undercard will feature the return of 19-year-old Puerto Rican prospect Juanmita Lopez De Jesus (4-0, 2 KOs), son of former world champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez, in a six-round junior bantamweight bout. “I am incredibly thankful to God for the chance to fight at home once again,” Juanmita said. “On January 31, we will show the world that Puerto Rico has a great prospect coming straight from ‘The Island of Enchantment.’”
Fight card:
▪️Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou, 12 rounds, for the WBO and WBA World Super Welterweight titles
▪️Juanmita Lopez De Jesus vs. TBA, 6 rounds, junior bantamweight
