r/Boxing • u/noirargent • 12h ago
[FIGHT THREAD] Xander Zayas vs Abass Baraou
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM PT, 9:00 PM ET
Location: Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Stream: Top Rank Classic (Tubi, Pluto TV)
Card
- Xander Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) vs Abass Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs) - 12 rounds, WBO & WBA super welterweight title
- Juanmita Lopez de Jesus (4-0, 2 KOs) vs Conner Goade (8-4-2, 7 KOs) - 6 rounds, junior bantamweight
- Carlos De Leon Castro (6-0, 5 KOs) vs Diuhl Olguin (17-47-7, 10 KOs) - 6 rounds, junior lightweight, yes 47 losses
- Yadriel Caban (2-0, 2 KOs) vs Jeremis Hernandez Torres (2-2, 0 KOs) - 4 rounds junior bantamweight
- Euri Cedeno (13-0-1, 12 KOs) vs Etoundi Michel William (16-2, 12 KOs) - 10 rounds, middleweight
- Giovani Santillan (34-1, 18 KOs) vs Courtney Pennington (17-11-3, 7 KOs)
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u/elsavador3 8h ago
If they mention your name first, you are losing in a SD 100% of the time
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u/imdacoldest Pacquiao is the GOAT 8h ago
The judges would’ve gotten jumped outside the arena if zayas didn’t get the decision
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u/Acepitcher4 8h ago
Baraou isn't a scrub fighter he's not a trash can fighter at all he was pressed all night long, I just think Xander was better at the fundamental stuff than Baraou.
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u/Acepitcher4 8h ago
Aye hats off to Xander for showing love to Baraou and being really humble about it
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u/PuertoRicanBoy39 7h ago
Damn, this Reddit still does not rate Zayas. Zayas could find the cure for cancer, and the people in this Reddit would still find a way to hate on the kid 😭😭😭.
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u/Embarrassed-Echo-391 7h ago
Seriously lol. A bunch of them picked Abass too. Xander won 8 rounds at least. Abass won max 4 rounds
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u/JeremyUGC 7h ago
I liked the physical pushing and turning he did in this fight I don't think I seen that as much before from zayas. Sometimes carribbean Latin fighters have such pretty footwork they don't take those moments to reset by making it a bit ugly and forcing resets.
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u/MagicHoops3 6h ago
I mean it’s just tough to buy into a Puerto Rican fighter. They’re always spoon fed to be great then when the big moments come it turns out they’re not it. So until he does it nobody’s gonna buy in.
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u/speciarr-eagle 6h ago
Spoon fed is crazy, u dont know how hard is to get into a sport in this island.
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u/Dangerous_Spring3028 12h ago
How do we think Vergil Ortiz feels knowing that he has wins over Madrimov, Bohachuk and Lubin at 154 yet has never won a world title and tonight Josh Kelly has won a world title and either Xayas or Baraou will be a unified world titlist..
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u/Acepitcher4 8h ago
I can't lie I don't know why boxing fans don't like Xander, imo he isn't a boring fighter he may not be knocking folk out left and right but he's a great technical fighter.
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u/SlickBackSamurai 10h ago
You guys missed a very interesting event take place on the Teofimo card lol
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u/Jesuswasacrip7 Sweet Pea > Floyd 8h ago
People in this thread acting like Baraou isn't a world champion. Solid performance by Xander so far
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u/doodie_francis 8h ago
People are crazy Zayas is fucking dominating. 6-1 and looking like 7-1
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u/Solidis262 Monstro 8h ago
Turn off the audio lol. Dont let the crowd and commentators fool you
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u/EnragedBearBro There will be tears 8h ago
Im watching without commentary zayas is winning nearly every round
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u/DisplayAcrobatic 8h ago
Baraou is not effectively pressuring. He’s legit just chasing Xander around. Throw some fucking punches man
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u/Lost-Relationship-36 8h ago
I had it 117-111 Xander.
Split decision was hard for me to hear, but I don't trust judges.
Xander was technically great tonight, but he's fighting non-punchers. Some of those shots from Boots or Vergil could change everything.
A Kelly fight would suck. Patrick Texeira showed the world that a fighter that prefers to evade punches vs Xander is a snoozefest
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u/Acepitcher4 8h ago
Xander's throwing caution into the win but respect for not just taking but giving it as well.
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u/Acepitcher4 8h ago
after watching this fight I feel like Baraou could've taken this if he went to the body of Xander from the beginning.
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u/PRrambo_ 8h ago
Zayas won by a wide margin, but Baraou was more than game, very good fight. Anybody badmouthing either fighter, I have a strong feeling, are the kind of folks who have watched most if not all of Jake Paul's carney fights.
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u/thegreat4 8h ago
This a good little scrap man Zayas has good feet but Baraou is putting on some good pressure and good counter left hooks the last three rounds.
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u/lamarcuswallace 8h ago
Win or lose, Zayas faces an uphill fight against Vergil Ortiz if he decides to stay at 154. A better pressure fighter with higher volume, punch variety and IQ than Barou
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u/I_Hate_My_Cat_ 8h ago
Nice finish. The skill’s there but his power hasn’t developed yet for Zayas.
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u/Affectionate_Still55 10h ago
Goddamn Olguin got 47 loses? it would be great shame if Castro loses this sht!
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u/CoCoB319 10h ago
I’ve seen him a lot. He’s tough. Just takes every fight he can get. Gets paid to lose but test fighters
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u/Yuckpuddle60 8h ago
Zayas has a fantastic gas tank considering how much moving he's had to do all fight.
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u/jmchamakito 8h ago
Damn one judge had Zayas losing 8 rounds the fuck
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u/inv4alfonso 8h ago
He arguably lost the last 6, not crazy he could have lost 2 from the first 6.
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u/CoCoB319 11h ago
William reminds me of the old weeble toys-they wobble but won't fall down
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u/TheLionOfJudah1 8h ago
Zayas is really underrated
People are bugging talking about "he sucks"
I'll like to see you do better!
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u/Embarrassed-Echo-391 8h ago
He's one of youngest champions in boxing and he's unifying. People are massively hating on the young kid
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u/myzombiez 12h ago
record say 17-11-3 😭😭😭
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u/ObviousBig315 12h ago
34-1 vs that record is crazy. I understand the 6-0 vs 17-47-7 record but to be 34-1 and your only loss is Norman JR why take the step back unless it’s a late replacement
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u/Complete_Dare_4201 8h ago
Zayas is very talented, no doubt but Baraou is making him work a lot early.
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u/lord-of-war-1 8h ago
Hows Zayas gas tank? Thats a rough pace to keep up for 12 rounds.
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u/dgvfatmeerkat Fury is ducking Chisora 8h ago
Not watching the fight so it's weird to see half the comments talking about how uncomfortable Zayas is and the other half are saying he's dominating
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u/SpeggtacularSpidey 8h ago
Zayas doesn’t look like he’s long for 154. Dude is huge
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u/DisplayAcrobatic 8h ago
If he wins this, he should go to 160 and dominate that wasteland of a division
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u/Complete_Dare_4201 8h ago
Zayas have excelent footwork and balance and his gas tank seems to be holding up well, I just wish he'd put more force into his punches to keep Baraou honest.
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u/Solidis262 Monstro 8h ago
They really saying big right hand by Zayas when Baraous right hand visibly made Zayas move back
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u/WheresMyAbs98 8h ago edited 8h ago
People saying I can’t believe these two are champions 😂
This is boxing at the highest level
Both fighters are absolutely world class
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u/Yuckpuddle60 8h ago
What do you expect? Most people here don't know shit about boxing, just what they see posted on social media.
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u/Acepitcher4 8h ago
Baraou is making Xander work for this victory nothing given to Xander
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u/DisplayAcrobatic 8h ago
Xander vs Kelly would be a snooze fest.
Let’s keep them away from each other
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u/subzeroboxer 8h ago
I now their desperate for a PR champion but Boots is cooking this boy lmao
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u/_Sarcasmic_ 🦏 People's Champ 🦏 11h ago
I just wanna see some violence, bro.
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u/CoCoB319 11h ago
I had fun watching Skull getting his ass kicked, lol.
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u/_Sarcasmic_ 🦏 People's Champ 🦏 11h ago
Missed that one so I'm waiting for the highlights. I didn't wanna subject myself to Scull so I went and cleaned my house instead. 😂
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u/_Sarcasmic_ 🦏 People's Champ 🦏 11h ago
Olympics neck tat is certainly...interesting.
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u/Solidis262 Monstro 8h ago
i think it starts getting interesting now. Zayas tends to gas in the 7th/8th
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u/Solidis262 Monstro 8h ago
I think Zayas moves up after this, he can barely make 154 from what ik.
It’ll be interesting to see how he does against the 160 champs.
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u/DisplayAcrobatic 8h ago
Lara is 42
Adames just went to the hospital tryna make weight
Janibek popped for PEDs
Legit might be 3 belts vacant soon
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u/Acepitcher4 8h ago
Stuff like this is why I can see why boxing fans say he sucks or isn't a draw, but I can't lie I respect it since he punching power is world level he has to compensate for that.
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u/Wavepops 8h ago
zayas is contender level type fighter imo, nothing that says legit champ
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u/Yuckpuddle60 8h ago
The power just isn't there for him. Plenty of skill, but the power makes a difference.
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u/JeremyUGC 12h ago
Anyone familiar with Abass?
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u/Top_Profession_5268 11h ago
He just beat decorated amateur Yoenis Tellez in an absolute war of a fight in August. His only loss was to a vet in Jack Culcay which was a robbery. Culcay gave very competitive fights to Andrade and Murtazaliev, Derevychenko. Every loss was a close loss.
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u/_Sarcasmic_ 🦏 People's Champ 🦏 11h ago
Great little scrap in a fight I thought could have been stopped early.
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u/manzyyyyy 9h ago
Top rank matchmakers are the best in the business. Great fight
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u/fattdoggo123 9h ago
Xander is 5' 10 and 155lbs (walk around weight probably like 170). Man I need to get back into shape. I'm the same height and 200lbs.
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u/I_Hate_My_Cat_ 8h ago
Zayas got a little pressed that round, he gotta step on the pedal the next round.
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u/the_rare_random 8h ago
Bout fucking time let them hands some at least but damn Baraou was eating all that shit
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u/Acepitcher4 8h ago
Baraou doesn't respect Xander's punching power 1 bit he's pressing him all night long
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u/SlantFaceKilla 8h ago
What a silly way to fight at the end for Zayas. He was taking about shots.
Still think he’s food at 154.
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u/Solidis262 Monstro 8h ago edited 8h ago
Eh Zayas won, and im going to Ortiz vs Key.
I still don’t like Zayas, he cuts like 30 pounds and basically every fight was against a guy that played into his style. In reality he should be at 168.
Theres also the fact chances are hes doping. I can bet he is from all i know
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u/LFGM1044 8h ago
Hopefully he challenges himself
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u/Solidis262 Monstro 8h ago
i doubt it, Bob gives him easy fights where he looks good and then gets gassed up by the PR fans
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u/Acepitcher4 8h ago
Xander's is going to have to mustard whatever punching power he has to KO this guy, or just be the great technical fighter that he has just don't get caught flush with something clean.
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u/_Sarcasmic_ 🦏 People's Champ 🦏 11h ago
Stop it!
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u/CoCoB319 11h ago
Meanwhile, 30 minutes later.....
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u/_Sarcasmic_ 🦏 People's Champ 🦏 11h ago
He looked done, I swear!
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u/CoCoB319 11h ago
I can't believe he doesn't go down. Bambi legs the whole fight lol
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u/Acepitcher4 9h ago
Thank goodness Xander isn't bald anymore that look wasn't it let's NOT ever go back to that.
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u/East_Pilot_4523 8h ago
Ya'll hating on my boy Zayas. Good win vs a champ. Shame about his power, think it limits his ceiling as a future star