Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou undercard: List of fights before 2026 WBO super welterweight boxing match

Xander Zayas makes the first defence of his WBO super welterweight title in a homecoming showdown with Abass Baraou in San Juan.

It will be the first time Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) has boxed in his native Puerto Rico as a professional.

The 23-year-old lived up to his reputation as one of the sport's brightest young stars when he scored a wide decision victory over Jorge Garcia Perez in New York last July to collect the vacant title.

Germany's Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs) has earned his shot on the back of an eight-fight winning streak, during which time he won and defended the European title.

The 31-year-old's only bout of 2025 was an upset win over Yoenis Tellez, where he dropped the highly rated Cuban in the final round of 12 before being awarded a deserved unanimous decision.

Among the undercard action laid on by Top Rank, there are some other members of Puerto Rican boxing's next generation looking to make a statement, while paths towards world title contention will be plotted.

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Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou undercard 

Here's a breakdown of all the main card action on the Zayas vs. Baraou bill:

Rohan Polanco vs. Christian Gomez

• Division/Weight: Welterweight
• Polanco record: 17-0
• Gomez record: 23-6-1
• Belts at stake: WBO Intercontinental

Undefeated welterweight contender Polanco makes the hop across from the Dominican Republic to star in the chief support.

Polanco is ranked sixth by the WBO and this is his first defence of the organisation's intercontinental strap that he won against Fabian Andres Maidana, the younger brother of former two-weight world champion and Argentine boxing icon Marcos Maidana, over 10 rounds in Las Vegas last May.

Mexico's Gomez is a fearsome puncher, with 21 of his wins coming via stoppage, although he has suffered four losses in his past five fights.

Euri Cedeno vs. Etoundi Michel William

• Division/Weight: Middleweight
• Cedeno record: 13-0-1
• William record: 16-2
• Belts at stake: N/A

Polanco's Dominican compatriot Cedeno is looking to continue his rise up the middleweight ranks and continue a run of six consecutive stoppages.

It's a battle of big punchers, with William matching Cedeno's career haul of 12 KOs. However, the Brazilian has lost each of his past two 10-rounders by decision.

Giovani Santillan vs. Courtney Pennington

• Division/Weight: Super welterweight
• Santillan record: 34-1
• Pennington record: 17-11-2
• Belts at stake: N/A

Californian southpaw Santillan continues his rebuild at welterweight, having gone 2-0 since being knocked out by Brian Norman Jr. in May 2024.

The 34-year-old cannot afford too many more marking time fights such as this one against teak tough veteran Pennington, who is on a five-fight losing streak. 

Juanma Lopez De Jesus vs. Conner Russell Goade

• Division/Weight: Super flyweight
• De Jesus record: 4-0
• Goade record: 8-4-2
• Belts at stake: N/A

Paris Olympian Lopez, the son of Puerto Rican boxing royalty Juan Manuel Lopez, steps out for the fifth time as a professional and this bout is not without danger.

Goade has only lost one of his past six fights, with his four wins during this period all coming via second-round KO.

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Carlos Jamil De Leon Castro vs. Diuhl Olguin

• Division/Weight: Super feather
• De Leon record: 6-0
• Olguin record: 17-47-7
• Belts at stake: N/A

De Leon is another young former amateur standout looking to make waves in Puerto Rico.

Five of his six wins have come inside the distance. Journeyman Olguin has only been stopped six times and will be looking to halt this momentum.

Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou tune-in info

• Date: Saturday, January 31, 2025
• Location: Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
• Time: 5:30 p.m. ET 
• Main event start time (approx.): 10 p.m. ET
• Live stream: Top Rank Classics/Top Rank Facebook page

Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou will stream on the Top Rank Classics FAST channel in the United States.

In the UK, fans can watch on the Top Rank Facebook page.

The fight card is on PlutoTV in Canada