Abass Baraou has played down the size of the risk he has taken by entering Saturday’s unification contest with Xander Zayas as a promotional free agent.
The WBA junior-middleweight champion makes the first defence of his title in pursuit of the WBO title held by Puerto Rico’s Zayas, and he will travel to Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico in his attempts to succeed.
Baraou’s promotional agreement with Wasserman Boxing concluded after the victory over Yoenis Tellez in August that led to him being elevated to the status of full champion. Offers, inevitably, followed from Wasserman and other promoters, but instead of signing for the relative security they would have offered, he instead chose to fight on the promotion of Top Rank – so heavily invested in Zayas – for what is widely considered a competitive fight that he could lose.
That Top Rank – for long so influential – are existing without a broadcast agreement similarly intensifies the nature of the gamble Baraou is considered to have taken. They are even more reliant on the 23-year-old Zayas succeeding than they previously, and typically, would have been.
There is little question – particularly in the landscape of the 154lbs division in which the centre of the universe is the US – that the German will have to succeed against the grander plans that exist for Zayas, Vergil Ortiz Jnr, Jaron “Boots” Ennis, Sebastian Fundora and others, but even then Baraou, 31, considers himself in a position of strength, such is his conviction in his abilities and his memories of being on the outside looking in.
“I’ve been in situations where I was waiting for fights and no one really knew what’s gonna happen,” he told BoxingScene. “My promoter, for example, won purse bids but I was still out there having camps without fights, or waiting for fights and not knowing where my career is going; if I even was performing as a professional athlete; I had to ask myself ‘What am I doing?’. Now I’m in a situation where I’m going for a unification fight and you can bet I know exactly what I’m doing.
“I like when this whole situation is up to me. I don’t have to wait for promises to be fulfilled; we’re making the move ourselves. I chose a unification instead of waiting for an offer or big promises – I feel more comfortable because the ball is in my hand and I decided what to do. When this happens the confidence grows a lot more ‘cause I have my eyes everywhere and I know what it takes and I know what I like doing. That boosts my confidence – I feel free, and I can really enjoy doing what I’m doing.
“We had been in talks with a few promoters but there was nothing really considerable for us. That’s why we made the next fight. This fight was the best fight we had; the best option and one to go with, and no other promoter could offer me a big opportunity like this, and that’s why I went also with this. To me, it didn’t really matter if I did it with a promoter or not.
“I’m pretty confident. I’ve been on this route for a minute, and I can trust myself the best and I like it when I can bet on myself and I’m not depending on any promises whatsoever. The experience I collected along the way – being in this position right now and going for this fight, I was in way worse situations, so this is easy to me, and it’s still a good fight. A good opportunity for me as well, and that’s what I’ve been enjoying. Being in this position can seem reckless, but to me it’s an amazing position to be in. My time has come, and I’m embracing it.”
The nature of the world’s most competitive weight division is reflected in the fact that the IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, whose promoter Main Events no longer has the luxury of a broadcast agreement, is earlier on Saturday fighting the Matchroom-promoted Josh Kelly in Newcastle, England – Kelly’s hometown. An agreement already exists for Kelly, in the event of victory, to fight the revered Ennis.
Their fight on Saturday is also Murtazaliev’s first since October 2024, when he so impressively stopped Tim Tszyu, then co-promoted by the US-based Premier Boxing Champions and popular in the US. That Tszyu has since fought a further three times and Murtazaliev continued to be avoided demonstrates the extent to which the Russian, not unlike Baraou, has been avoided and also of the opportunities presented to those with the biggest reputations in the west.
Baraou – who for most of his career has fought in Europe – is one such profile of fighter, but also knows that in the event of victory he will have two of his division’s titles and may even become the most sought-after opponent and in-demand fighter of them all.
“I’ve been with the Sauerlands my whole career, and after the last fight we didn’t really find an agreement,” he said. “I didn’t have the feeling that there was a lot of interest in it, so my contract just run out and I’m focusing on going on the next chapter. In boxing everything’s a risk – this is the situation I’m in. There’s no downside to it. I’ve been taking risks for a long time – it’s a risk. Every loss means a big setback, and then you’re gonna see what the promoter can do for you and everything.
“But I feel confident – the belt is in my corner, and we’ve been on our own and know what we want. This fight has some big potential for me, and I’m only seeing the win inside [me] and I’m going for it. If you see it like this everything is a risk – I’m going with the risk which can reward me very well.
“It couldn’t be any worse [if I lost] than when I was with a promoter. I was in a situation where I took a fight against Jack Culcay in my 10th professional fight. There could have been more preparation or whatever, but I put a great performance [losing via split decision] on for my 10th fight and I was even hungrier to go for more, and the result of the best performance in my 10th fight was me waiting 14 months or even more for a tune-up fight. From my own story and experience, I’ve seen it all.
“This ‘risk’ that people see that I’m taking – for me it’s no risk. I’m flying. I’m living free. I get that it can seem like it’s reckless; it’s risky. But this is exactly what I wanna do and what I’m gonna go for. It’s a blessing to be able to do so, and that’s the way I’m seeing it.”
Baraou’s confidence is perhaps enhanced by the fact that he and the improving Zayas have previously sparred each other. He has also previously sparred Kelly, but is expecting Murtazaliev to win.
“He’s a good talent,” he said of the fighter considered capable of reviving Puerto Rican boxing. “He’s very skilful, and technically very good. I sparred many times with him. It was great sessions, and helpful for both of our camps. He can work on a good level – I liked sparring with him.
“It was good work I got. It helped me prepare for my fight. I got to know his team and his people, and they’re all good, and cool. I’ve got nothing against him – it’s business. I will take it very seriously, but I have nothing against him.
“He knows how to use his skills. He can be technical. He’s got good, quick skills. He can use his reach; his feet.
“I have a great opportunity right here. Maybe it’s too soon for him – maybe not. But I’m just looking forward to beating this guy – that’s what I’m focusing on. I’m preparing to be his worst nightmare on the 31st.
“I’m excited for this fight. It’s the biggest opportunity, and also a big fight in the hottest division. I’m looking forward to putting on a performance and becoming the new king in the 154lbs division.”
