Abass Baraou’s promoter Kalle Sauerland is planning the junior middleweight’s first title defence after his elevation to the status of WBA champion.
The German, in the month after his victory over Yoenis Tellez, has joined Bakhram Murtazaliev, Sebastian Fundora and Xander Zayas as a belt-holder at 154lbs.
If in 2025 the junior-middleweight division represents the world’s most competitive, it has also proven difficult for Baraou to secure opportunities at the highest level.
Murtazaliev is expected to defend his IBF title against Josh Kelly – like Baraou also promoted by Wasserman Boxing – in December but Sauerland wants Baraou to attempt to unify the titles in the mid-to-longer term.
He also mentioned Conor Benn, a career welterweight, as a potential high-profile future opponent, regardless of the reality of Benn entering his rematch with Chris Eubank Jnr on November 15.
“There are those big unifications to make when they’re out there,” Sauerland told BoxingScene. “It’s one of the most exciting weight classes at the moment.
“We’ll see where [Terence] Crawford ends up landing after the Canelo [Saul Alvarez] fight; which weight class. I do expect him to stay up there, around that weight [168lbs]. But he can do so many weights so comfortably. Anything’s possible.
“The other mega fights out there… We’ll see where Conor Benn ends up after the Eubank fight. I don’t see him going back down to welter, but he’ll be around super welter. That’s a big fight. We look at our man, Josh Kelly, as well. His challenge against Murtazaliev for the world title. There’s a huge amount of options around that weight; there’s lots out there. But it is a moment to stop and celebrate – not only winning the world title, but the journey to get there.”
Of those at Wasserman, Baraou’s success is perhaps particularly significant for Kalle and his brother Nisse. Sauerland Promotions was long one of Europe’s most influential promoters but that influence has been challenged in the modern era; the 30 year old’s status as champion therefore presents them with an opportunity to rebuild overseas.
“It’s amazing when you, as a promoter, find someone from the amateurs and have the fortune to see things all the way through to the top of the sport – which is obviously becoming a world champion,” Sauerland continued.
“Especially if you look at the story of Abass. He had a lot of things going against him in the amateurs in Germany. He then became mandatory challenger with the IBF; lost a very, very tight decision to Jack Culcay [in 2020]. A lot of people saw that the other way around. That was a big setback in the middle of Covid in Germany when German boxing was particularly horrific.
“He had to spend a lot of time outside of the ring; worked hard in camp; realised he had to get away from Germany. Left his family; his friends behind and trained, first of all in the UK, and then in the States. So, the sacrifices this fighter’s made to be a world champion just shows that hard work does pay off and is an inspiration to any amateur or pro starting off in the sport. Or, in fact, anyone; any kid walking through the door of a gym for the first time.
“It really is the fairytale of boxing. And now, he’s there. For him, the chase – so to speak – is now over. He is the hunted, being the world champion. And there will be lots of fighters eyeing up that belt. It suddenly changes. You’re the hunted.”
