Zayas vs Baraou

Who won Zayas vs Baraou?

Xander Zayas beat Abass Baraou by split decision in their 12 round contest on Saturday, January 31st, 2026, at Coliseo de Puerto Rico, San Juan.

The scorecards were announced as 116-112, 116-112, 116-112 in favor of winner Xander Zayas.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 12 rounds in the Super Welterweight division, which meant the weight limit was 154 pounds (11 stone or 69.8 kg).

This contest was for the unified super welterweight championship of the world, with the WBO, and WBA belts on the line.

Zayas was making his 2nd defense of the WBO World Junior Middleweight Championship. He won this belt against Jorge Garcia Perez in July 2025. He had held this belt for 6 months and 23 days.

He was also defending WBA World Super Welterweight Championship for the first time. He won this belt against Abass Baraou in January 2026. He had held this title for 18 days.

Also on the undercard Giovani Santillan was victorious over Courtney Pennington, and Euri Cedeno beat Etoundi Michel William.

Zayas vs Baraou stats

Xander Zayas stepped into the ring with an undefeated record of 22 wins, zero losses, and 0 draws.

Abass Baraou made his way to the ring with a record of 17 wins, 1 loss and 0 draws.

Xander Zayas was the younger man by 8 years, at 23 years old.

Both Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou fought out of an orthodox stance.

Zayas was arguably the less experienced fighter, having had 4 more fights, and made his debut in 2019, 1 year and 7 months later than Baraou, whose first professional fight was in 2018. He had fought 31 fewer professional rounds, totaling 112 compared to Baraou's 143.

Zayas vs Baraou form

Zayas remained undefeated as a professional, stopping 2 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won against Jorge Garcia Perez on July 26, 2025, by unanimous decision in their WBO World Junior Middleweight championship fight at The Theater, Madison Square Garden, New York, United States.

Prior to that, he had won against Slawa Spomer on February 14, 2025, by technical knockout in the 9th round at Madison Square Garden Theater, New York.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Damian Sosa on September 27, 2024, by unanimous decision in their 10 round contest at Madison Square Garden Theater, New York.

Before that, he had defeated Patrick Teixeira on June 8, 2024, by unanimous decision in their 10 round contest at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York.

He had won against Jorge Fortea on December 9, 2023, by technical knockout in the 5th round at Charles F. Dodge City Center, Pembroke Pines.

Baraou had won 5 of his most recent fights, stopping 1 of them, going the distance 4 times.

In his last fight before this contest, he had defeated Yoenis Tellez on August 23, 2025, by unanimous decision in their WBA Interim World Super Welterweight championship fight at Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando, United States.

Prior to that, he had defeated Macaulay McGowan on June 14, 2024, by unanimous decision in their 12 round contest at Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton, United Kingdom.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Sam Eggington on March 1, 2024, by majority decision in their WBA World Super Welterweight eliminator fight at Telford International Centre, Telford.

Before that, he had won against Hugo Noriega on December 8, 2023, by unanimous decision in their 8 round contest at Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando, United States.

He had beaten Ferenc Katona on March 31, 2023, by technical knockout in the 3rd round at York Hall, Bethnal Green, United Kingdom.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Xander Zayas had been fighting more than Abass Baraou.

Going into this contest, Xander Zayas had last fought 6 months and 5 days ago, while Abass Baraou's last outing had been 5 months and 8 days ago.

Zayas' last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 1 month and 22 days, which means he had been fighting approximately every 5 months and 5 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 46 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 9.2 rounds on average.

Baraou's last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years and 10 months, meaning he had been fighting on average every 6 months and 26 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 47 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 9.4 rounds on average.

What time did Zayas vs Baraou start?

The fighters were expected to ringwalk at around 3:00 AM UTC at Coliseo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, which was 10:00 PM EST or 7:00 PM PST on the West Coast of America, or 3:00 AM GMT in the UK.

Who broadcast Zayas vs Baraou?

The Top Rank Classics show began at 5:30 PM EST / 2:30 PM PST. The Facebook UK broadcast of the card started at 11:30 PM (GTM).

What were the odds on Zayas vs Baraou?

Xander Zayas was a 1/4 (-400) favorite going into the contest, while Abass Baraou made his way into the ring at 10/3 (+330) with oddsmakers.