Baraou will look to get right back into the title picture when he faces Giovani Santillan in a 10-round junior middleweight bout in the main event of a ProBox card on September 11 in Oceanside, California.

“I think he's a great opponent,” Baraou told The Ring. “[He] has a lot of fights. He's a tough guy, and it's a great opportunity for me to prove to the world again that I belong among the best. I'm excited for this fight, a really good opportunity and great matchup as well.”

Baraou (17-2, 9 KOs), of Oberhausen, Germany, went into enemy territory when he lost by split decision to Zayas on January 31 in Puerto Rico.

Despite the result, Baraou viewed the experience as a major step in the right direction. Facing Zayas (23-1, 13 KOs), The Ring’s No. 5 junior middleweight, helped lay the groundwork for Baraou eventually agreeing to a multi-year deal with Top Rank on August 10. Top Rank also serves as Zayas’ promoter.

Baraou, 31, will be fighting in his opponent’s backyard again when facing Santillan (35-1, 18 KOs), who is from nearby San Diego.

“I don't mind going,” Baraou said. “I wouldn't mind fighting in his living room if there was a ring. You tell me where the fight's gonna be, and I'll be there.”

Baraou won the interim WBA 154-pound title last August when he beat Yoenis Tellez by unanimous decision. He was elevated to full champion after Terence Crawford moved up to 168 pounds, facing Canelo Alvarez.

Santillan, 34, last fought on the Zayas-Baraou undercard, winning a unanimous decision against Courtney Pennington. He’s won three straight fights since his lone defeat, a 10th-round knockout against Brian Norman in 2024 for the interim WBO welterweight title.

Baraou, The Ring’s No. 9 junior middleweight, is ranked No. 4 by the WBA, No. 6 by the WBO and No. 11 by the WBC and knows victory could position him for another significant bout.

“I'm just going in there and doing what I do best to go back to the top,” Baraou said. “That's the only thing on my mind right now. I've been in camp, been hustling and want to win so badly.

“Nothing else really matters to me anymore. I'm glad I have stability with the promoter now. My team is ready. I have everything set now. I just want to perform to get a great win to prove to myself that I still have it and have improved since my last fight.”