
Nate Pardo-Marrero
3 hrs ago
3 min read
Xander Zayas couldn’t have drawn up his homecoming any better.
Zayas turned in a complete performance, as he outboxed Abass Baraou to win a split decision and become the unified WBA and WBO 154-pound champion at Coliseo De Puerto Rico on Saturday.
With victory, the 23-year-old becomes boxing's youngest unified world champion.
Oliver Brien's 116-112 Baraou card was overruled by two 8-4 scores in Zayas' favor from judges Patrick Morley and Jose Roberto Torres, who had the Top Rank star leading 5-1 through six rounds.
"I want the camera to show this coliseo, this thing is packed. Oscar [De La Hoya], we can sell in Puerto Rico. So next time, make sure you don't put up more excuses," Zayas said before declaring his desire for unification bouts.
"I'm speaking to whoever in the division. Vergil [Ortiz], Boots, Sebastian [Fundora]. [Josh] Kelly just won tonight. If he wants to get it on by the summer, I would like to invite him to Puerto Rico or New York."
Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) was fighting in his San Juan hometown in Puerto Rico for the first time and made sure it was a memorable homecoming, aided by a purposeful start.
The bout's first half couldn't have gone much better for the home hero. His advantage in footwork and speed was evident, keeping Baraou (17-2, 9 KOs) turning, resetting and connecting on the cleaner work.
Baraou struggled to close the gap, and in moments when Zayas' back touched the ropes, he often turned and found his way back to center ring, where he used his biggest advantages.
The preconceived notion pre-fight was that if Baraou was to produce an upset, it would be because his pressure wore Zayas down and helped him take over in the second half. He had his moments in rounds five and seven, though neither were clear enough to score in his favor.
The action intensified in the ninth, the pair trading combinations for much of the opening minute. Zayas returned to boxing, ensuring Baraou couldn't work his way to the inside.
In the 10th round, Zayas steadied himself to tighten his grip on the fight by again showcasing his ability to box and move.
Aware he needed a finish, Baraou put his foot on the gas and left it all in the ring in the final frame. Despite being well ahead, Zayas obliged, and the fight reached a fever pitch with both gamely trading blows until the final bell.
After the win, Zayas called out the other top names at 154 pounds. The fight was much wider than a split decision, with Baraou acknowledging he didn't feel like he had done enough to prevail post-fight.
"He did an amazing job," an emotional Baraou conceded. "Beat me fair and square. I like him, am proud of his performance. Such a young guy, unified world champion, he deserved it."
"I was a bit scared [after hearing split decision]," Zayas said. "But to be honest, I knew I pulled it off [and won] at least eight or nine rounds.
Undercard results
Junior bantamweight, 6 rounds
Juanmita Lopez De Jesus (5-0, 2 KOs def. Conner Goade (8-5-2, 7 KOs) by unanimous decision (60-53 x3)
Junior lightweight, 6 rounds
Carlos De Leon Castro (7-0, 6 KOs) def. Diuhl Olguin (17-48-7, 10 KOs) by sixth-round TKO
Junior bantamweight, 4 rounds
Yadriel Caban (3-0, 3 KOs) def. Jeremis Hernandez-Torres (2-3) by first-round KO
Middleweight, 10 rounds
Euri Cedeno (14-0-1, 12 KOs) def. Etoundi Michel William (16-3, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision (100-88 x3)
Junior middleweight, 10 rounds
Giovani Santillan (35-1, 18 KOs) def. Courtney Pennington (17-12-3, 7 KOs) by unanimous decision (98-92, 97-93, 96-94)
Results

Nate Pardo-Marrero

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