Abass Baraou willing to step up and face Vergil Ortiz Jr but remains wary of McGowan challenge

ABASS BARAOU is putting himself on standby should Vergil Ortiz Jr need an opponent in the near future.

The two super-welterweights are ranked in the top two positions with the WBA, but any hopes of a title opportunity may have to wait until later this year or 2025. That’s because belt-holder Israil Madrimov defends his newly acquired strap against boxing superstar – and former undisputed welterweight champion – Terence Crawford on August 3 in Los Angeles.

Ortiz was originally set to feature on the glowing undercard against former unified champion Tim Tszyu but the Aussie recently withdrew on medical grounds freeing Ortiz up. Boxing’s worldwide information super highway currently has Ortiz linked to a fight against Ukrainian Serhii Bohachuk but nothing is official.

Baraou, 15-1 (9 KOs), is back in action tonight and back on UK television screens defending his European super-welterweight title against Macaulay McGowan, 20-4-2 (5 KOs) at the Bolton Whites Hotel in Bolton live on Channel 5.

Any hope of landing a quick turnaround against Ortiz or any other leading name would be dependent upon the champion delivering a quick night’s work and emerging unscathed.

“Of course, that’s the plan. I’m ready for that,” Baraou said of a shot at Ortiz.

“Tim Tszyu is out. I’m ready to jump in. Come out clean from the next fight, get a solid win and be ready for that fight.”

“I haven’t really seen him [Ortiz] get into a fight at 154 yet,” he adds. “I’d be ready to take him into deep waters. He’s quite talented and I think it would make a good fight. I’m ready for it and I’m confident it could happen so I put myself in the position and hope that it happens.”

Baraou spoke to Boxing News via Zoom with his maiden defence getting nearer and nearer. The German is a red-hot odds-on favourite to beat his Mancunian challenger, who may not have been the first defence many had predicted after Baraou beat Sam Eggington in a fan-friendly encounter on March 1.

Baraou (L) is a huge odds-on favourite to retain his European title

“I wasn’t really hoping for anything,” he says.

“I’m just here for whatever and my goal is the next job and that’s what I focus on. I think it’s quite a good name to have on the record as well and he will give me a good fight. He’s not just coming to lose and waste his time and I’m prepared for everything he’s bringing. It’s the next challenge and I’m excited for it.”

The 29-year-old is efficient in his preparation and professional in his answers to BN. Overlooking McGowan cannot enter his thinking, for example, because of what is on the line and what he has worked hard for to achieve in a career that is enjoying a new lease of life after overcoming long periods of inactivity.

“I go in every time to put [in] a great performance and I think the highest pressure is one I put on myself,” he says.

“I know I need to get the job done and I know how I need to do it. I know I need to put on a great performance. I need to put everything I’ve done in the camp and put it into the ring. My coaches will be looking at me, my friends and family will be looking at me. I don’t think that much about public opinion because it can be divided. I know what I have to do. I set my goals and I’m busy with that.”

Baraou enjoyed the company of his friends when they watched back his victory over Eggington. While it was a hard-fought contest, Baraou always had that bit more in his locker. The victory was well-deserved and the outpouring of emotion afterwards was brought on by the years of waiting for another opportunity and not knowing if it would happen. Baraou watched the fight on another occasion, however. This time on his own.

“When I watch it alone I watch it as a critic and with friends I watch it as a fan and enjoy every moment of it. I could tell I was quite emotional in the fight,” he recalls.

“I could have done it more clever but it’s not like I was disappointed. It was the fight that needed to be for that moment. It was a special night. It’s what was needed from me and I’m happy I’ve done it and it went good. I need that gut check to see that I still got it. I know I can do it in a much smarter way but I loved the fight and if I could turn back time I would do it in the exact same way.

“I’m enjoying everything. I’m locked in and see the goals and now I just need to live it. I’m quite focused and I want to keep the momentum going and be as active as possible and put myself out there on a bigger stage.”