Betting
Xander Zayas vs Abbas Baraou Preview: Tips, Odds, Tips & Prediction
Date: Saturday, 31 January 2026 Ring-walk time: 10:00 PM ET Venue: Coliseo de Puerto Rico Xander Zayas takes on Abbas Baraou and puts his WBO Junior Middleweight title on the line in a unification match against the German WBA champion on Saturday, 31 January 2026. It is a historic match as it is the first unification fight on the island in over 15 years. If you are keen to place wagers on this fight, you can check out some of the best boxing betting sites for extra value.
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Xander Zayas of Puerto Rico /Getty Images
Pre-Fight Odds and Win Probability: Zayas the Favorite
It is set to be a tight encounter, and some of the top-rated US betting sites have competitive odds available.
Xander Zayas: 2/5 (71.4%)
Abbas Baraou: 2/1 (33.4%)
Odds courtesy of BetMGM are subject to change.
Tale of the Tape
| Attribute | Xander Zayas | Abbas Baraou |
| Age | 23 | 31 |
| Height | 5’10” (178cm) | 5’9” (176cm) |
| Reach | 74” (188cm) | 69.5” (176.5cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Record | 22-0-0 | 17-1-0 |
| KO Wins | 13/59% | 9/53% |
| Total Rounds Boxed | 112 | 131 |
| Weight Class/Rounds | Junior Middleweight/12 | Junior Middleweight/12 |
| Titles Held | WBO Junior Middleweight | WBO Junior Middleweight |
| Last five results | W UD(Garcia), W UD(Spomer), W UD(Sosa), W TKO, W UD | W UD(Tellez) W TKO, W UD, W UD, W TKO |
Xander Zayas News
Zayas comes into this unification fight with a clean bill of health, and his camp are confident in their preparations.
He is coming off a very dominant unanimous decision win of the WBO belt against Jorge Garcia back in July 2025, and the young champ will be relishing the chance to fight in his home country.
Keys for Zayas to Win
Zayas has superior reach, and his footwork is really fast. If he maintains his high volume punches early on and uses his youth to his advantage, he should come out on top.
Abbas Baraou News
Baraou became the full WBA champion after he upset Yoenis Tellez by unanimous decision in August 2025.
His camp reported that he is sharp and ready for the fight. Known as the road warrior, he should be able to deal with the hostile home environment of Zayas.
Keys for Baraou to Win
If Baraou is to win, then he will have to apply pressure early on and force some exchanges while targeting the body to slow Zayas down. He can capitalize on his experience and ability to navigate away from fights.
Suggested Bets
If you want to place your bets, here are our suggested bets for this fight.
Xander Zayas to win: His youth and energy give him an edge, as well as the home advantage. (Forecast odds: 2/5 with FanDuel)
Fight to go the distance (Yes): Both these fighters are fit and can take it to the full bout. (Forecast odds: 2/3 with Draftkings)
Value Bets
These value bets give you an extra edge for your betslip.
Zayas by Decision: Zayas is the undefeated champ and the favourite to get the win in front of his home crowd. (Forecast odds: 10/11 with Draftkings)
Over 11.5 Rounds: As mentioned earlier, both these fighters can go the distance. (Forecast odds: 6/4 with BetMGM)
Xander Zayas vs Abbas Baraou Prediction: Zayas by Decision
This Junior middleweight unification is set to be an exciting clash. Zayas is quicker and has a better reach, while Baraou is experienced and can handle hostile environments. It will be a close fight, but our betting prediction is that Zayas will remain unbeaten in front of his home fans. .
Nigel Naicker is a versatile sportswriter with extensive experience covering major global tournaments, including the Premier League, AFCON, and the Champions League. His knowledge stretches across soccer, UFC, cricket, and several other sports. In recent years, he has also expanded his expertise into sports gambling content and more specialised sporting niches.