Abass Baraou Beats Santillan in Oceanside Upset Bid

Abass Baraou defeated Giovani Santillan by majority decision Friday night in Oceanside, California, spoiling the local favorite's homecoming and picking up the vacant WBO Inter-Continental junior middleweight title in the process.

Judges scored the 10-round main event at Frontwave Arena 95-95, 96-94 and 97-93, all in Baraou's favor. Both fighters weighed in at 153.8 pounds the day before, and Baraou came in as a clear betting favorite. That price didn't reflect how hard Santillan made him work. The "Gallo de Oro" fought in front of his own crowd with a southpaw stance and constant forward pressure, and the split nature of two of the three cards shows just how close things got in the trenches.

What Baraou's Win Means for the 154-Pound Picture

This was a needed bounce-back for Baraou after he dropped a split decision to Xander Zayas in a WBA-WBO unification fight back in January. A second straight loss would have pushed the German out of the title conversation at junior middleweight. Instead he leaves Oceanside with a regional belt and his name back in range of the division's top fights. He doesn't carry the promotional muscle of Jaron "Boots" Ennis or Zayas, but taking a decision on the road against a hometown fighter who was determined to make it a fight reinforces what's made him a consistently awkward out for anyone in the 154-pound field: pressure, conditioning and experience that travels.

For Santillan, the loss is a real setback rather than a knockout blow to his career. He came in on a three-fight winning streak built to rebuild his stock after Brian Norman Jr. stopped him in 2024, using the move up to 154 pounds to escape the wear of the welterweight limit. A majority decision loss doesn't erase that progress, but it costs him ground with the WBO at age 35, when there isn't unlimited time left to grind through another long climb back to contention.

Betting Angle

Baraou opened as the clear favorite on the road against a fighter with local support, and he got out with the win, but not comfortably. The 97-93 scorecard suggests he did enough clean work to control the fight on at least one judge's eye, while the tighter 96-94 and even 95-95 cards reflect how much success Santillan had forcing exchanges up close. Bettors leaning on Baraou as a live betting favorite in future title fights should note this one wasn't the routine walk the price implied. Anyone who wants to grade his next line correctly needs to weigh how competitive his output actually is against pressure fighters, not just his résumé.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Abass Baraou vs Giovani Santillan fight?

Abass Baraou defeated Giovani Santillan by majority decision on September 11 at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California, winning scores of 95-95, 96-94 and 97-93.

What title was on the line in Baraou vs Santillan?

The vacant WBO Inter-Continental junior middleweight title was on the line, and Abass Baraou won it with his majority decision victory.

What does the loss mean for Giovani Santillan's career?

The majority decision loss to Abass Baraou snaps Giovani Santillan's three-fight winning streak and sets back his push for a 154-pound title shot, though at 35 he remains in the division.