The boxing world is buzzing after a nail-biting showdown where Xander Zayas narrowly clinched a title unification! On Saturday night, January 31, 2026, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the electrifying junior middleweight bout saw Zayas, already holding the WBO title, go head-to-head with Abass Baraou, the WBA champion. The outcome? A split decision that left fans on the edge of their seats.
Zayas, a proud native of Puerto Rico and now boasting an undefeated record of 23 wins (13 by KO), successfully added Baraou's WBA belt to his collection. The judges' scorecards told a story of a fiercely contested fight: two saw Zayas victorious with scores of 116-112, while the third judge surprisingly favored Baraou (17 wins, 9 KOs, with 2 losses) at 116-112.
"This feels amazing," Zayas, who is only 23 years old, exclaimed. "I'm just getting started." He revealed that the fight wasn't without its challenges, mentioning a hand injury around the ninth round. "Have to figure it out, but that's what champions do. ... I found a way tonight." This resilience is a hallmark of true champions, isn't it?
Zayas admitted to feeling the pressure as the scorecards were being read. "I'm not going to lie, I was a bit scared, but to be honest, I think I pulled it off," he confessed. He felt confident about securing at least eight or nine rounds, acknowledging Baraou's toughness: "He's a warrior."
For context, Zayas captured the WBO title back in July by impressively defeating Jorge Garcia. Baraou, on the other hand, earned his WBA interim title in August by overcoming Yoenis Tellez, and was later elevated to full champion status when Terence Crawford vacated the belt.
But here's where it gets controversial... While Zayas secured the win and unified the titles, the split decision itself highlights how subjective boxing can be. One judge's perspective differed significantly from the other two. Do you think the judges accurately reflected the action in the ring, or was there a clear winner that night? Baraou put up a formidable challenge, and some might argue he did enough to sway that third scorecard. What are your thoughts on the judging in this fight? Let us know in the comments below!
