Fit to Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou

To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles!

(February 1st) Puerto Rican star Xander Zayas is now a unified king.

Zayas defeated Abass Baraou via split decision to become the WBO/WBA junior middleweight world champion Saturday evening at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in Zayas’ hometown of San Juan. The 23-year-old is the youngest active unified champion and the first Boricua to accomplish the feat on the Island.

Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) used his feet often in the fight, jabbing and landing short combinations. The game plan allowed Baraou (17-2, 9 KOs) to overcommit as he pressed forward, and Zayas responded by landing quick counters and finding the center of the ring.

In the fifth, Baraou had some success with a series of right hands and seemed to gain momentum, but Zayas stayed composed and continued boxing.

In the ninth, Zayas landed his best shot of the night, a perfect right hand that wobbled Baraou. Zayas went for the kill, but Baraou survived and dragged him into a toe-to-toe fight.

Zayas quickly regained his composure and returned to the game plan, never straying until the final round, where he dazzled the hometown crowd with nearly a full round of tit-for-tat action.

One judge had the fight 116-112 for Baraou, which was overruled by two scores of 116-112 for Zayas.

Zayas said, "I feel amazing. I’m only 23, and I’m the youngest active unified champion. And, I’m just getting started."

"When I heard the decision, I was a bit scared. But to be honest, I felt I pulled it off. I won at least eight or nine rounds. Maybe he got three or four."

"I hurt my left hand in the ninth round. I was jabbing a lot and he has a hard head, so I hurt my jab hand. But I figured it out, like all champs do. Like I told you before, champions find a way to win."

Baraou said, "Congrats to him. I'm proud of his performance. He did an amazing job. He beat me fair and square. He deserves it. I will come back stronger."

Juanmita Goes The Distance

Second-generation Puerto Rican standout Juanmita Lopez De Jesus (5-0, 2 KOs) earned a six-round unanimous decision (60-53 3x) against Conner Goade (8-5-2, 7 KOs), but it wasn't easy.

The 20-year-old southpaw boxed from the outside, landing single straight left hands or right hooks to the body. Goade pressed the action, but by round three, Juanmita found his rhythm and upped the pressure, nearly finishing him.

However, Goade did not crumble under the assault, forcing Juanmita to cruise in the later rounds on the back foot.

Junior Lightweight: Carlos De Leon Castro (7-0, 5 KOs) registered a sixth-round TKO against durable veteran Diuhl Olguin (17-48-7, 10 KOs). Castro build a strong lead in the opening rounds, but a nonstop flurry on a bloody Olguin forced the stoppage at 1:31.

Junior Bantamweight: 20-year-old Puerto Rican prospect Yadriel Caban (3-0, 3 KOs) blasted out Jeremis Hernandez-Torres (2-3) in one round. Caban dropped Hernandez-Torres with a right hand before ending the contest with a left hook to the body. Time of stoppage: 1:46

Middleweight: Euri Cedeño (14-0-1, 12 KOs) punished Etoundi Michel William (16-3, 10 KOs) across 10 rounds to earn a lopsided unanimous decision. Cedeño scored two knockdowns in the opening stanza, from which William could not fully recover. Scores: 100-88 3x.

Junior Middleweight: In his first fight at 154 pounds, San Diego native Giovani Santillan (35-1, 18 KOs) earned a workman like 10-round points verdict over Courtney Pennington (17-12-3, 7 KOs). Scores: 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94.

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