Puerto Rico's Zayas, 23, Becomes Youngest Unified Champ

Xander Zayas just made boxing history in his hometown of San Juan, becoming the youngest active unified champion in the world and the first Puerto Rican to ever achieve this milestone.

The 23-year-old defeated Abass Baraou by split decision on Saturday night to unify the WBO and WBA junior middleweight world championships. Two judges scored the bout 116-112 for Zayas, while one judge saw it differently at 112-116 for Baraou.

"I feel amazing. I'm only 23, and I'm the youngest active unified champion," Zayas said after the fight. "And I'm just getting started."

The young champion stayed composed throughout the 12-round battle, using quick footwork and precise jabbing to control the fight. When Baraou pressed forward aggressively in the fifth round, landing several right hands, Zayas didn't panic.

Instead, he stuck to his game plan, landing quick counters and finding his rhythm again. In the ninth round, Zayas hurt his left hand but refused to let the injury derail his dream.

"I figured it out, like all champs do," he explained. "Champions find a way to win."

His best moment came in that same ninth round when he landed a perfect right hand that wobbled Baraou. The German fighter survived but couldn't win enough rounds to take the belts home.

Why This Inspires

Zayas moves to 23 wins without a loss in his professional career, but the numbers don't tell the full story. Fighting in front of his hometown crowd in Puerto Rico, he carried the weight of history and an entire island's expectations on his shoulders.

His gracious opponent Baraou showed the heart of a true sportsman after the loss. "Congrats to him. He did an amazing job. He beat me fair and square," Baraou said. "I will come back stronger."

At an age when many people are just starting their careers, Zayas has already reached the pinnacle of his sport. He's rewriting what's possible for young athletes and showing an entire generation of Puerto Rican kids that championship dreams can come true at home.

The youngest unified champion in boxing today is just getting started.