Abass Baraou

Abass Baraou is a German light-middleweight whose steady rise through Europe’s regional ranks and international title fights has made him one of the division’s most familiar names. An orthodox fighter standing 177 cm tall from Aalen and based in Berlin, Baraou compiled a professional record of 18-2-0 with nine stoppage victories across 20 bouts. He holds the WBO Inter-Continental light-middleweight title, captured when he won the vacant belt on September 11, 2026. He is not a current recognised world champion; he formerly held the WBA interim title (later elevated to full champion) before losing the WBA title on January 31, 2026. Baraou made his professional debut in April 2018, stopping Artur Mueller by fourth-round TKO. He moved quickly onto domestic honours, claiming the German light-middleweight title in June 2018 with a unanimous decision over Denis Krieger and defending that belt later the same year when Robert Maess retired after two rounds. Early in his career he demonstrated a mix of power and control, scoring stoppage wins over the likes of Ali Funeka and setting the stage for his first international opportunity. In February 2019 Baraou stepped up to capture the WBC International light-middleweight title with a decision over Carlos Molina, and he kept that strap later that year by stopping John O’Donnell in London. Those wins established him as a contender beyond the German domestic scene and opened the door for higher-profile assignments. Baraou suffered the first defeat of his career in August 2020, dropping a split decision to Jack Culcay in Berlin. He returned to form across 2021 and 2022, producing stoppage victories and adding the IBO Continental light-middleweight title with a sixth-round TKO of Brian Damian Chaves in March 2022. A notable chapter came in 2024 when Baraou moved between light-middleweight and super-welterweight assignments to win the vacant EBU European super-welterweight title on March 1, 2024, by majority decision over Sam Eggington, then retained the EBU European light-middleweight title in June 2024 via decision over Macaulay McGowan. He continued his international trajectory in August 2025 by claiming the WBA interim super-welterweight (light-middleweight) title against Yoenis Téllez. That interim status culminated in a unification challenge on January 31, 2026, when Baraou faced Xander Zayas for the WBA and WBO light-middleweight world titles; he lost a split decision in San Juan. Baraou rebounded later in 2026 by taking the vacant WBO Inter-Continental light-middleweight title with a majority decision over Giovani Santillan. Active and experienced at regional and international level, Baraou’s career is defined by domestic title beginnings, regional championships, and multiple high-stakes world-title opportunities that have kept him prominent in the light-middleweight ranks.