Xander Zayas spoke his wish list into existence.
BoxingScene has learned that unbeaten WBO 154lbs titlist Zayas is set to face WBA counterpart Abass Baraou on January 31 at the famed Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan. The bout is expected to be formally announced during a November 12 press conference to be held on site.
Ring Magazine was first to report that terms were reached, barely a week after the two sides reached a verbal agreement, as BoxingScene previously reported.
Zayas, 22-0 (13 KOs) – a Puerto Rico-born boxer based in South Florida – and Germany’s Baraou, 22-0 (13 KOs), will each make the first defense of the belts they claimed earlier this summer.
The WBO belt was nabbed by Zayas in a 12-round unanimous decision win over Jorge Garcia on July 26 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Zayas’ feat topped the final telecast of promoter Top Rank’s seven-year boxing series with ESPN, with the bulk of the roster facing uncertainty over next steps.
Top Rank remains without a network or streaming deal, though hard plans remained for Zayas, 23, to make his first title defense in P.R. The homecoming bout is Zayas’ first on his home island since 2020 – a knockout win in just his fourth bout and just four months into his pro career.
There were talks of Zayas possibly facing Top Rank banner mate Giovanni Santillan, 34-1 (18 KOs), for this occasion. However, such a matchup would have been more of the same for Zayas, who wanted something far more memorable for his return to San Juan.
That led to the persistent pursuit of securing a two-belt showdown with Baraou.
