Historic junior middleweight title unification as Xander Zayas faces Abass Baraou on Saturday, January 31 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Fight Snapshot

Xander Zayas will begin 2026 with a defining homecoming moment as he defends his WBO junior middleweight world title against WBA champion Abass Baraou in a rare world title unification on Puerto Rican soil.

At just 23 years old, Zayas has already made history as the youngest male world champion in boxing. His rise from teenage prodigy to fully fledged world champion has been marked by discipline, composure, and steady progression through the rankings. After capturing regional titles and building championship experience, Zayas secured the WBO crown with a dominant decision victory over Jorge Garcia in New York.

Standing opposite him is Abass Baraou, the reigning WBA junior middleweight champion and a proven road warrior. Baraou captured the WBA title after upsetting Yoenis Tellez in a dramatic twelve round battle. A decorated amateur with European Championship gold, Baraou has rebuilt his professional career following an early setback and now enters his prime with momentum.

Date, Time, and Broadcast

• Date: Saturday, January 31
• Event: Zayas vs Baraou
• Promoter: Top Rank
• Broadcast: TBA
• Venue: Coliseo de Puerto Rico

Tale of the Tape

Complete Undercard

A strong supporting card adds depth to the historic unification bout, blending international contenders with Puerto Rican talent.

Matchup	Division
Rohan Polanco vs Christian Gomez	Welterweight
Giovani Santillan vs Courtney Pennington	Junior Middleweight
Euri Cedeño vs Etoundi Michel William	Middleweight
Juanmita Lopez De Jesus vs TBA	Junior Bantamweight

Why This Fight Matters

Historic unification: This is only the second world title unification ever staged in Puerto Rico.

Global divisional impact: With two major titles at stake, the result will shape the junior middleweight landscape moving forward.