After spending three-and-a-half years off the radar, Abass Baraou made a strong comeback, overcoming Sam Eggington in a 12-round battle with a majority decision victory at the Telford International Centre in England this Friday night.
The judges were split, with Freddy Rafn scoring it a draw at 114-114, the other two judges leaned towards Baraou with 117-112 and 117-111, respectively, crowning Baraou as the new holder of the vacant European junior middleweight belt and propelling him forward in the WBA title race.
Baraou, with a record of 15-1 including 9 KOs, and previously bested by Jack Culcay, came out swinging to avoid a repeat defeat. Meeting Eggington in the center of the ring, Baraou showcased superior finesse to take an early lead.
The 29-year-old German adopted a more calculated approach, unsettling Eggington with his agility and a mix of punches. The third round saw an intense exchange, climaxing with Baraou’s left hook that sent Eggington’s mouthguard flying.
Eggington, a former EBU welterweight champion, rallied in the fourth round, but Baraou’s strategic dominance continued, mixing boxing with brawling to control the fight.
Baraou’s relentless assault in the ninth round left Eggington battered and bleeding from a cut over his left eye. Despite the back-and-forth, Baraou seemed to land the more impactful blows.
Round 11 was particularly brutal for Eggington, who, despite being shaken multiple times, displayed incredible resilience, fighting back against the odds.
The final round was a testament to their warrior spirits, with both fighters exchanging blows until the last bell, and sharing a moment of respect afterward.
Wasserman Boxing dropped the ball on promoting this war. It’s almost as if they decided to keep this barnburner a secret, maybe hoping fans would stumble upon it by sheer luck. In a world where even the most mundane bouts get blasted across social media, the silence around this sizzler was deafening. Talk about a missed opportunity to make some serious noise and rally the fans.
