“It was difficult for me to get in the mix of having fights,” Abass Baraou tells BoxingScene. “Maybe because I was a dangerous fighter with low reward. Now that I have the world title I have something people want, and they have to face this challenge too. It means activity; it means progress; I can show myself to the world and go in the ring with the best. I have the feeling my goals are coming closer.”
Germany’s Baraou was talking following his elevation to the status of WBA junior-middleweight champion, but his words could very easily once have been those of Bakhram Murtazaliev, the champion of the IBF.
Baraou, like Murtazaliev, has long been among the junior-welterweight division’s most avoided fighters – to the extent that descriptions of the Russian as the “most avoided world champion” have become almost a cliche.
It is not unthinkable that Baraou, who has fought mostly out of Europe, may yet be described similarly regardless of his growing profile, status and leverage. The centre of the junior-middleweight universe remains in the US and Baraou – a proven fighter without the reputation of fellow champions Sebastian Fundora, Xander Zayas and further contenders – will for many of his potential opponents not offer the same appeal.
That England’s Josh Kelly – like Baraou long promoted by Wasserman – is expected to be Murtazaliev’s next opponent is perhaps symptomatic of what has long been one of Baraou’s biggest challenges. He is simultaneously among the most proven and most overlooked fighters in the world’s most competitive weight division; his being crowned champion outside of the ring is in part a reflection of the difficulties he has had to overcome.
“I was looking for a shot like this for a long time and didn’t get any chance to be in the talks and prove myself in the division,” he explains. “I was making fights; I became European champion, and I was happy.
“I got higher into the WBA rankings; I was proving myself and patiently working in the gym. We were meant to fight for the interim [title] a long time ago, but somehow they avoided us and I had to wait again, and I was trying to make a [EBU] title defence in France. We were aiming for that two times but that fight fell through. I had two camps, and prepared for the fight two times, and the fight fell through.”
Terence Crawford, the previous WBA champion and the least active of the world’s leading fighters, indirectly contributed to Baraou’s previous sense of frustration. The new undisputed super-middleweight champion is both a ruthless individual and a victim of being stripped of his status as the undisputed champion at welterweight by the IBF.
Crawford was stripped of the WBA 154lbs title after his victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez at super middleweight. Baraou, having in August defeated Yoenis Tellez for the interim title, watched his finest victory aware that he was about to benefit via his career potentially being transformed.
“I knew going into this last fight it was a potential world championship fight,” he says. “I was really happy when I got the win, and when I got fully elevated I was proud to reach this step. I was happy – I still can’t believe it. But I’m excited for the future.
“I got a letter by the WBA confirming it and congratulating me. I was at the Crawford and Canelo Alvarez fight; when the fight started I had the biggest smile on my face. I knew ‘It’s official now’.
“In the ring, that was the biggest moment for me – winning the fight. I knew what that would lead to. Getting the letter was more excitement; more joy. I remember the moment in the ring. The fight played the biggest part; when I got the news I was proud of the fight and I remembered the good times, and everything going right in the fight.
“It’s very exciting for me to be in this division. You have characters; you have top-level athletes; good boxers, and I’m blessed to be in a position like this. I’m among them, and looking forward to facing good opponents to be in the mix; to make big fight nights. That’s what I’m looking for, and it excites me too.
“I’ve been looking for the big fight nights in Germany too. I’d like to be in this position. I’m enjoying going out to bring upsets and take the win with me. I have the feeling the big fight nights are out there. I’ve been to [Las] Vegas for the Canelo show – I got really motivated ‘cause Vegas is boxing’s home. Just being there, seeing the atmosphere, excited me. I would love to fight in Vegas or New York. I would like to fight everywhere. When the time is to fight in Germany I’ll be happy to do that too.
“Right now it looks like they’re interested; maybe we’ll make a big fight night in Germany. If not, I’m happy also to keep travelling [and defend my title on the road].”
Zayas, the WBO champion, has already spoken of his desire for a unification fight with him. Zayas fought and won the vacant title against Jorge Garcia Perez in July and was present when Baraou defeated Tellez; the title (in many respects appropriately) became vacant when Fundora, preparing to defend his WBC title against the marketable Keith Thurman, prioritised a rematch with the marketable Tim Tszyu.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis’ junior-middleweight debut against Uisma Lima is significant in the landscape of their weight division; Vergil Ortiz-Erickson Lubin follows on November 8 and ultimately has even greater appeal.
“Xander Zayas came into the ring; we’ve been chasing that fight too, either straight away or next year,” Baraou said. “There’s a lot of options for me now, so I want to go to the top fights right away; any good fight could be next. Vergil Ortiz is fighting now; Fundora’s also fighting. The next possible fight will [have to] be an easy one to make. I don’t want to wait for nobody and I just want to keep continuing.
“It’s difficult to say [who the leading junior middleweight is]. The top guys – Vergil Ortiz is a phenomenal talent and has good experience. He’s coming from 147; he proved himself in a few good fights. You have Fundora; Murtazaliev, he’s there, and Xander Zayas is there. The top 15 in this division are pretty good, so there will always be good fights.
“[Murtazaliev’s] dangerous to the division. But I like those challenges. I want to fight the best. He looks good – he looked great against Tim Tszyu – and he fought [Jack] Culcay too in Germany, who I lost to. I came into this position and I will fight anybody; the better they are, the better for me, you know?
“I was like ‘Let’s go for this and not waste more time’, so I was happy the WBA made it mandatory for this fight [against Tellez] to happen. I knew we were going to get a shot like this. ‘I have to perform’, and I knew I would perform because I’ve been looking for a shot like this my whole career.
“It was pretty easy when the fight got announced ‘cause I knew exactly what I needed to do. I had all the experience; I waited patiently; I was working. I can’t wait – I feel like it’s just the start now. I become world champion and now I’m in the room and in talks with other top athletes. The goal is bigger now. I want to chase and become a multiple division world champion.”
