Abass Baraou


Abass Baraou is a German-French professional boxer who has held the World Boxing Association light-middleweight title from 2025 to 2026. As an amateur, he won a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships and a gold at the 2017 European Championships, both while competing at welterweight.

Early life

Baraou was born on 28 October 1994 in Aalen, Germany. Shortly after his birth, his family returned to their homeland of Togo, where he spent the first nine years of his life before moving back to Germany and settling in Oberhausen. Born to Togolese-French parents, Baraou holds both Togolese and French nationalities from his parents. When he was 13 years old, the energetic Baraou attended a trial boxing training session offered at a youth center near his apartment. Although he didn't like it all that much, thinking it was too boring, he was spotted by a trainer that saw him hit the punching bag and persuaded him to continue training with him.
He became the first German in seven years to win a gold medal at the continental stage when he took first place in the welterweight event at the 2017 European Championships in Ukraine, upsetting the favorite Pat McCormack in the final. Later that year at the World Championships in Hamburg he reached the semi-finals of the welterweight tournament, where he fell to two-time Olympic medalist Roniel Iglesias.
He was also a three-time national champion and a three-time winner of the prestigious Chemistry Cup.

Amateur results

  • 2012 Youth National Championships in Cologne, Germany
  • * Defeated Sandro Thalmann 22–10
  • * Defeated Hasan Ozer AB2
  • * Defeated Johannes Simsch 21–10
  • 2012 Brandenburg Youth Cup in Frankfurt, Germany
  • * Defeated Adam Sakhnini 14–8
  • * Defeated Michał Ostrowski 18–8
  • * Lost to Igor Kharitonov 9–15
  • 2012 Youth World Championships in Yerevan, Armenia
  • * Defeated Yurik Mikaelyan 22–14
  • * Defeated Manjeet Singh RSC2
  • * Lost to Osman Aydin 9–14
  • 2013 U-21 National Championships in Moers, Germany
  • * Defeated Besir Ay 3–0
  • * Defeated Jan Ualikhanov 3–0
  • * Defeated Malek Ezzeldinne 3–0
  • 2014 Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany
  • * Defeated Slawa Kerber 2–1
  • * Defeated Michael Gunitzberger 3–0
  • * Defeated Stephen Donnelly 2–1
  • * Defeated Liu Wei 2–0
  • 2014 U-21 National Championships in Moers, Germany
  • * Defeated Daniel Kornmeier TKO2
  • * Defeated Hrach Movsisyan 2–1
  • * Defeated Olcay Simsek 3–0
  • 2014 National Championships in Straubing, Germany
  • * Defeated Darian Neumann TKO2
  • * Defeated Harun Guler 3–0
  • * Defeated Slawa Kerber 3–0
  • 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan
  • * Defeated Andrei Hartsenko 3–0
  • * Lost to Parviz Baghirov 0–3
  • 2015 Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany
  • * Defeated Viktor Agateljan 3–0
  • * Defeated Igor Nesterov 3–0
  • * Lost to Byambyn Tüvshinbat 1–2
  • 2015 National Championships in Straubing, Germany
  • * Defeated Alan Unadzhev 3–0
  • * Defeated Arthur Krischanowski TKO3
  • * Defeated Slawa Kerber 3–0
  • 2016 Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany
  • * Defeated Byambyn Tüvshinbat 3–0
  • * Defeated Ilya Ochkin 3–0
  • * Defeated Andrey Zamkovoy WO
  • * Defeated Arajik Marutjan WO
  • 2016 Beogradski Pobednik in Belgrade, Serbia
  • * Defeated Roberto Queiroz 2–1
  • * Lost to Daniyar Eleusinov 1–2
  • 2016 World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan
  • * Defeated Josh Nyika KO
  • * Defeated Eumir Marcial 2–1
  • * Defeated Bahtiyor Mirzomukhammad 3–0
  • * Lost to Imre Bacskai 0–3
  • 2016 National Championships in Straubing, Germany
  • * Defeated Olcay Simsek 3–0
  • * Defeated Elah Al-Magamseh TKO3
  • * Defeated Magomed Schachidov 3–0
  • * Defeated Jonathan Zumbe 3–0
  • 2017 Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany
  • * Defeated Sergey Margaryan UD
  • * Defeated Xavier Kohlen UD
  • * Defeated Ablaikhan Zhussupov MD
  • 2017 Beogradski Pobednik in Belgrade, Serbia
  • * Defeated Sion Yaxley 5–0
  • * Defeated Vasile Belous RSCI3
  • * Defeated Maulen Oskenbek 5–0
  • * Defeated Andrey Zamkovoy WO
  • 2017 European Championships in Kharkiv, Ukraine
  • * Defeated Miroslav Kapuler 4–1
  • * Defeated Alexandros Tsanikidis 4–1
  • * Defeated Vincenzo Mangiacapre 3–2
  • * Defeated Vasile Belous 5–0
  • * Defeated Pat McCormack 4–1
  • 2017 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany
  • * Defeated Juan Solano 4–0
  • * Defeated Byambyn Tüvshinbat 5–0
  • * Lost to Roniel Iglesias 1–4

Professional career

Baraou made his professional debut under legendary trainer Ulli Wegner on 28 April 2018, defeating undefeated compatriot Artur Mueller via fourth-round technical knockout at the Baden Arena in Offenburg. In his second fight he took the German light-middleweight title from Denis Krieger with a ten-round unanimous decision victory over the Moldovan-born fighter. As the final bell rang, Krieger spat at Baraou and insulted him in the post-fight interview. The Hanover crowd booed him as he offered the fans in attendance both middle fingers several times while exiting the venue. Four months later, on 6 October, Baraou retained his belt against Robert Maess, the man Krieger had originally beaten for the title in January. He knocked his opponent down with a powerful left in the second round, and even though Maess was saved by the bell, he retired in his corner to give Baraou the victory.
On 16 February 2019, less than ten months after his pro debut, he defeated Mexican former world champion Carlos Molina by unanimous decision after twelve rounds for the vacant WBC International light-middleweight title. In May he defeated former IBO world champion Ali Funeka in Frankfurt, stopping the 41-year-old veteran in the fifth round. He followed that up with his first fight abroad, a TKO victory over Egyptian prospect Abdelghani Saber at the Caesars Palace in Dubai. After Baraou dropped him once in the first round, he floored him again with a body shot in the second that he was not able to get up from. One and a half months later he defended his WBC International title against John O'Donnell on the undercard of the Regis Prograis–Josh Taylor World Boxing Super Series super lightweight final at The O2 Arena in London. Baraou sent him to the canvas late in the sixth round, and continued his attack after O'Donnell got to his feet, prompting the referee to stop the fight with one second left in the period.
After a main event stoppage victory over Mexican rival Abraham Juarez in Hamburg in January 2020, Baraou moved to England to train under the tutelage of highly regarded coach Adam Booth. His second title defense was announced for 4 April against Nick Klappert, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
19Win17–2Xander ZayasSD1231 Jan 2026Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot, San Juan, Puerto RicoLost WBA light-middleweight title;
For WBO light-middleweight title
18Win17–1Yoenis TellezUD1223 Aug 2025Caribe Royale, Orlando, Florida, U.S.Won WBA interim light-middleweight title
17Win16–1Macaulay McGowanUD1214 Jun 2024Bolton Whites Hotel, Bolton, EnglandRetained European light-middleweight title
16Win15–1Sam Eggington121 Mar 2024Telford International Centre, Telford, EnglandWon vacant European light-middleweight title
15Win14–1Hugo NoriegaUD88 Dec 2023Caribe Royale, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
14Win13–1Ferenc KatonaTKO3, 0:2531 Mar 2023York Hall, London, England
13Win12–1Brian Damian ChavesTKO6, 1:5519 Mar 2022Tempodrom, Berlin, GermanyWon vacant IBO Continental light-middleweight title
12Win11–1Meriton KaraxhaUD103 Dec 2021Harzlandhalle, Ilsenburg, Germany
11Win10–1Jay SpencerTKO1, 10 Sep 2021Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria
10Loss9–1Jack Culcay1228 Aug 2020Havelstudios, Berlin, Germany
9Win9–0Abraham JuarezRTD4, 3:0025 Jan 2020Work Your Champ Arena, Hamburg, Germany
8Win8–0John O'DonnellTKO6, 2:5926 Oct 2019The O2 Arena, London, EnglandRetained WBC International light-middleweight title
7Win7–0Abdelghani SaberTKO2, 2:0113 Sep 2019Caesars Palace, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
6Win6–0Ali FunekaTKO5, 2:524 May 2019Fraport Arena, Frankfurt, Germany
5Win5–0Carlos MolinaUD1216 Feb 2019Conlog Arena, Koblenz, GermanyWon vacant WBC International light-middleweight title
4Win4–0Sasha YengoyanUD101 Dec 2018Schwalbe Arena, Gummersbach, Germany
3Win3–0Robert Maess2, 3:006 Oct 2018Wolfsburg, GermanyRetained German light-middleweight title
2Win2–0Denis Krieger102 Jun 2018Stadionsporthalle, Hanover, GermanyWon German light-middleweight title
1Win1–0Artur Mueller4, 2:1728 Apr 2018Baden-Arena, Offenburg, Germany