Abass Baraou Outworks Giovani Santillan To Win Majority Decision On ProBox

Abass Baraou beat Giovani Santillan by majority decision in the ProBox TV main event at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California, taking the WBO Intercontinental super-welterweight title.

Baraou won by scores of 97-93 and 96-94, with the third judge scoring the 10-round fight 95-95. The former WBA champion improved to 18-2 (9 KOs), while Santillan dropped to 35-2 (18 KOs).

Baraou was the busier fighter for much of the contest, pushing Santillan back and forcing him towards the ropes. Santillan had success when he let his hands go in combinations, but those spells were generally brief as Baraou continued to press and work at the higher tempo.

Santillan found some rhythm in the third before Baraou responded with a right-hand counter late in the round. His strongest spell came in the fifth, when the southpaw backed Baraou to the ropes and attacked to the head and body.

Baraou was back on the front foot in the sixth and continued to start and finish many of the exchanges. Santillan had further success in the seventh and boxed more smoothly in the eighth, but was again giving ground in the ninth.

Trainer Robert Garcia urged Santillan to find a way to win the closing rounds, while Baraou continued to press and finished with a sustained two-handed attack.

Unofficial CompuBox figures had Baraou landing 148 of 541 punches to Santillan’s 92 of 381, including a 122-72 advantage in power punches.

It was Baraou’s first fight since losing his WBA title to Xander Zayas by split decision in their WBO/WBA unification bout in January. Santillan had won three consecutive fights since his stoppage defeat to Brian Norman Jnr for the interim WBO welterweight title in May 2024.

Speaking to Gayle Falkenthal, Baraou said fighting away from home had not been a concern.

“I’m confident everywhere I go, you know? Like if there’s a ring, I’m gonna make it work, and get the win,” he said.

Looking ahead, Baraou added: “Today was the right first step on the way back to become champion again. One year from now, you’re gonna be calling me a multiple world champion.”

Lopez stops Lugo in three

Luis Alberto “Venado” Lopez stopped Daniel Lugo in the third round of their junior-lightweight bout in the co-main event.

Lopez hurt Lugo late in the second and dropped him with a left hook to the body following an earlier accidental low blow. He continued the attack in the third until referee Ray Corona stopped the fight at 1:18.

The former IBF featherweight champion improved to 33-3 (20 KOs), while Lugo fell to 28-5-1 (19 KOs).

Lopez had fought only four rounds since losing his IBF title to Angelo Leo in August 2024.

“I was very anxious to return to the ring,” Lopez said. “I was trying to get a world champion (to face me in this fight), unfortunately, none of them were available. But, hey, I’m happy to be performing here tonight.”

He later added: “I promise you, I will be champion once again.”

Valle and Sousa remain unbeaten

Dominic Valle remained unbeaten with a unanimous decision over Francois Scarboro Jnr in their 10-round junior-lightweight fight.

Valle, 14-0 (7 KOs), was cut over the right eye early but used his jab and combinations to take scores of 96-94 and 98-92 twice. Scarboro dropped to 14-1 (9 KOs).

Hebert Conceicao Sousa improved to 12-0 (6 KOs) by stopping Jose De Jesus Adame Chio in the eighth round. After Adame Chio applied pressure through the opening four rounds, Conceicao Sousa scored knockdowns in the fifth and eighth before Corona stopped the contest at 1:46.

Daniel Morales moved to 10-0 (6 KOs) with a second-round knockout of Lorenzo Vazquez Avalos, while Julian Montalvo improved to 8-0 (6 KOs) when Anthony Cruz Herrera’s corner called for the fight to be stopped in the fifth.

In off-broadcast action, Jorge de Jesus beat world champion challenger Mercito Gesta by majority decision in Gesta’s first fight for three years.