Xander Zayas secures title unification with narrow victory against Abass Baraou

Xander Zayas confirmed his position as one of boxing’s emerging talents, narrowly overcoming Abass Baraou by split decision in their junior middleweight title unification match on Saturday night in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs), who came into the fight as the WBO champion, secured Baraou’s WBA title with this win. Two judges scored the bout 116-112 in favor of Zayas, while a third judge awarded the same score to Baraou (17-2, 9 KOs).

“This feels incredible,” stated Zayas, a Puerto Rican native. “I’m only 23. I’m just beginning. I had to overcome some challenges; around the ninth round, I slightly injured my hand. I need to address that, but that’s what champions do. I mentioned in the fighters’ meeting that fighters and champions find a way to win. And I did that tonight.”

Zayas acknowledged that it was a tightly fought contest and expressed his anxiety as the judges’ scores were announced.

“I won’t lie, I was a bit nervous, but honestly, I believe I won,” Zayas remarked. “I felt I won at least eight or nine rounds. He might have taken three or four, but he is a true warrior.”

Zayas claimed the WBO title in July after decisively defeating Jorge Garcia by decision. Baraou triumphed over Yoenis Tellez in August to capture the WBA’s interim title before being promoted to full champion when Terence Crawford vacated the division the following month.