Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou have finalized a deal for a 154-pound title unification bout on January 31 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, sources told The Ring on Thursday.
Zayas, the reigning WBO champion, will defend his belt against WBA titleholder Baraou in what marks the first defense for both fighters. Ranked No. 6 and No. 10 respectively by The Ring at junior middleweight, the matchup brings together two rising forces in one of boxing’s deepest divisions.
For the 23-year-old Zayas the fight is especially meaningful - a homecoming opportunity on the island where he was born. Raised in San Juan before relocating to South Florida at age 11, Zayas captured the vacant WBO title in July with a unanimous decision over Jorge Garcia in New York.
Germany’s Baraou enters as the WBA champion following his upset victory over Yoenis Tellez in August in Orlando. Baraou dropped Tellez in the final round to secure the win and was later elevated to full champion status after Terence Crawford vacated the division’s top title. His only career defeat came via split decision to Jack Culcay in 2020.
With two world titles and national pride on the line, Zayas vs. Baraou promises to be an explosive start to 2026 -and a defining moment for Puerto Rican boxing’s newest star.
Image Credit: The Ring