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Giovani Santillan & Abass Baraou
Meet At The Crossroads Sept. 11
Both top-ranked junior-middleweight contenders Giovani
Santillan and Abass Baraou say they’re well aware of the
career implications of winning or losing their 10-round main
event on Friday, September 11, live on ProBoxTV (8:00 pm
ET/5:00 pm PT) from Frontwave Arena in Oceanside,
California.
Southpaw Santillan, 35-1 (18 KOs), the hometown hero from
nearby San Diego, rated the IBF No. 12 junior-middleweight
in the world, says he knows a victory over Baraou puts him
right back in the division’s title picture.
Santillan will be looking for the fourth victory of his
comeback since losing his “0” via unexpected TKO to Brian
Norman Jnr for the interim WBO welterweight title in May
2024.
“This upcoming fight against Baraou is very important to me
and to my career,” said Santillan. “I expect myself to win
this fight and put on a great performance! This is the fight
that will put me into the top of the division and give me a
chance to challenge for a world title.”
Former WBA junior-middleweight champion Baraou, 17-2 (9
KOs), from Berlin, Germany, is the WBA No. 4-, WBO No. 6-
and WBC No. 12-ranked junior-middleweight contender.
Known for his high-volume pressure, Baraou won the WBA
Interim junior-middleweight world championship by scoring a
final-round knockdown en route to a unanimous points verdict
over then-interim champion, Yoenis Téllez in August 2025. He
was elevated to full champion the following month, after
Terence Crawford vacated the title.
Baraou will be making his first ring appearance since losing
his 154lbs title by split decision in a WBO/WBA unification
battle against Xander Zayas in late January this year.
The fight against Santillan, says Baraou, can serve as a
springboard back to another shot at the world belt.
“This is a great matchup and a great opportunity for me to
prove that I belong among the best,” said Baraou. “Santillan
is a strong fighter, and I believe I have all the tools to
beat him. I’ll be ready, and I can’t wait to put on a great
performance.”
In the co-main event, former IBF featherweight world
champion Luis Alberto Lopez, 32-3 (19 KOs) of Baja
California, Mexico, will make his ProBox Promotions debut
against rugged contender Daniel Lugo, 28-4-1 (19 KOs), of
Sonora, Mexico.
WBO No. 6- and IBF No. 11-ranked “Venado” Lopez will be
fighting for the third time since losing his IBF title to
fellow ProBox Promotions stablemate Angelo Leo in August
2024.
In the chief supporting bout, undefeated junior-lightweights
Dominic Valle, 13-0 (7 KOs), of Lutz, Florida, and Francois
Scarboro Jnr, 14-0 (9 KOs), of Cheverly, Maryland, will
collide with someone’s 0 on the line in an uncommonly
high-stakes battle between rising prospects.
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