WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 30 Jan 2026
Coverage from San Juan begins at 6:30 p.m. AST
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Jan. 29, 2026) — Puerto Rican WBO junior middleweight world champion Xander Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) is set for his high-stakes homecoming. Zayas will battle WBA king Abass Barou (17-1, 9 KOs) on Saturday evening from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan.
The full Zayas vs. Baraou card will be broadcast in Puerto Rico on WAPA Deportes, the only local channel dedicated entirely to sports programming, starting at 6:30 p.m. AST. The event will also be available via live stream at https://wapa.tv/envivo/deportes/, exclusively for residents of Puerto Rico.
The WAPA Deportes telecast will feature seven bouts, including the return of second-generation superstar Juamita Lopez De Jesus (4-0, 2 KOs). The son of former two-division world champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez will face Conner Goade (8-4-2, 7 KOs) in a six-rounder at junior bantamweight.
“We have closely followed Xander Zayas’s career. His technical skill and power have propelled him to the peak of his career. Broadcasting this fight card, headlined by him, reflects WAPA Deportes’ commitment to offering top-tier sports programming and supporting the new generation of athletes who represent the present and future of boxing. Our goal is to bring the audience relevant, high-quality events that connect with the country’s passion for sports,” said Paco Vargas, General Manager of WAPA Deportes.
“Zayas vs. Baraou is a historic event for Puerto Rico, and we are thrilled to partner with WAPA Deportes,” said Top Rank COO Brad Jacobs. “Puerto Rican fight fans have followed Xander intently ever since he turned pro, and on Saturday, they’ll watch as he attempts to unify the WBO and WBA junior middleweight world titles.”
WAPA Deportes is available in Puerto Rico through major cable and satellite providers, including Liberty (channels 44 and 244 HD), DIRECTV (channel 657), Claro TV (channel 5), Dish (channel 27), Sling TV, and Aire Digital (4.2). Visit www.wapa.tv for more details.
In the United States, the diaspora and the Hispanic community can enjoy the Spanish-language broadcast on WAPA América beginning at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT. WAPA América is available as part of the Latino package of major cable and satellite providers, including Spectrum, Comcast, DIRECTV, DishLATINO, YouTube TV, and Fubo, among others.
Jorge Hidalgo, President and CEO of WAPA Media, commented: “WAPA América continues to be the connection between Puerto Ricans living in the United States and their Island. The diaspora celebrates its own, and this broadcast is a key opportunity for them to experience the achievements of their athletes firsthand and stay connected to the pride and excitement of Puerto Rican boxing from the Island.”
“I’m very happy and grateful that my fight will be broadcast live for all the people of my Isla del Encanto on WAPA Deportes and for all my Boricuas in the diaspora on WAPA América," Zayas said. "Knowing that my people will be watching me live on national television motivates me even more to put on a great show and give it everything I have to make history this Saturday at El Choli. This one is for you.”
La Línea Deportiva will offer special coverage starting at 5:30 p.m. AST, while Noticentro and the digital platform Wapa.TV will provide special coverage of the fights on the card before, during, and after the event.
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