Boxing – Abass Baraou v Sam Eggington – Telford International Centre, Telford, Britain – March 1, 2024 Abass Baraou celebrates after winning the fight against Sam Eggington Action Images via Reuters/Andrew BoyersCredit: ReutersWORLD CHAMPION Abass Baraou fears he’s getting robbed of his belt before a punch has been thrown.
The 31-year-old WBA super-welterweight boss – who spent five years living and training in Surrey under Adam Booth – is trying to unify against WBO champ Xander Zayas on Saturday.
Abass Baraou won the European title in England before taking over the worldCredit: Reuters
The Germany-born Togo star beat Brummie hero Sam Eggington on his route to world title honoursCredit: Reuters
And he has boldly taken on the challenge of travelling to his opponent’s Puerto Rico home and fighting on an away Top Rank promotion, that backs Zayas.
All the Togo-German champ wants – after a brilliant career on the road winning in places like York Hall, Telford and Bolton – is a fair crack of the whip.
But he already reckons he’s facing the same sort of skullduggery that cost him the only defeat of his career – when he wrongly ‘lost’ a split decision to Jack Culcay in 2020.
The fearless fighter explained to SunSport: “When the fight was being made, I didn’t care about money – our only demand was neutral officials.
“Everyone said ‘of course no problem’ as if it would be crazy not to have neutral officials.
“After all, I’m a champion agreeing to go to Puerto Rico to fight a Puerto Rican for the WBO belt, which is a Puerto Rican organization.
“Also the promoter is Top Rank, so no part of this is a level playing field, outside the ring.
“But I didn’t care as long as it was fair inside the ring.”
For context to casual boxing fans, when and battled for undisputed heavyweight glory in Saudi Arabia in 2024, the three judges and ref came from America, Canada and Spain.
And when the Ukraine and England giants reran the action, the officials were from Puerto Rico, USA and Panama.
It seems staggering that Baraou is going into a unification fight against a Puerto Rican, in enemy territory and with the cards stacked against him.
He explained: “At the start of fight week, we got told there was an issue with Puerto Rico commission rules saying that the ref and at least one judge must be Puerto Rican.
“But everyone involved is either Puerto Rican or connected to Puerto Rican boxing – so how can they claim to have only just known about the supposed rule?
“It’s a big surprise and we only found out in fight week.
“We have pushed back, we have a contract stating neutral officials.
“More than that, neutral officials are a basic principle of fair play. It is crazy to have a unification fight without neutral officials.”
The Home of Boxing in 2026
There's a massive year of boxing ahead!
It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
is expected to make his return, is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
Derek Chisora could fight for the 50th and final time and Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of , Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
Up first we have a massive fight with Stateside superstars and Teofimo Lopez meeting later this month in Madison Square Garden.
Here’s all the big fights coming up…
January
- Sat 24 – Raymond Muratalla vs Andy Cruz – IBF lightweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson – WBO super-lightweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 31 – Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly – IBF super-welterweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Francesca Hennessy vs Ellie Bouttell – BBC2
February
- Sat 7 – Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa – WBA featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 21 – Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios – WBC welterweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 21 – Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – DAZN
- Sun 22 – Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn – heavyweight unification – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN
March
Baraou and his Wasserman team have gone out of their way to offer alternatives and deal breakers, only to be brutally rebuffed.
He said: “After a few days there was no change. So we suggested two German officials to match the two Puerto Ricans, that’s logical.
“We were told it was out of the question and it was crazy for us to even suggest it. So now we’re waiting.
“It is so disappointing. I’m a champion. I’m not some challenger just grateful for the opportunity and happy for a payday.
“It’s not right, I’m not being respected as a champion. And it’s sad the fight is being tarnished like this.
“Everyone will be studying the actions of these officials, very closely now, because mistakes they make won’t be seen as fair and honest like they would if they were neutral.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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