On August 23rd, WBA 154-pound interim Champion, Yoenis “El Bandolero” Tellez (10-0, 7 KOs), originally from Santiago de Cuba and now fighting out of Stafford, Texas, will defend his title against Germany’s Abass Baraou (16-1, 9 KOs) in a twelve-round bout on the MVP Fight Night card at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The event will be televised live worldwide on DAZN. Tickets on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com. [The WBA still recognizes Terence Crawford as its 154-pound champion even though Crawford will challenge Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for the world 168-pound championship next month.]

 

Tellez is coming off a career-defining performance against former world champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams. On March 1st, he dominated the seasoned veteran to capture the WBA interim title. Now, he turns his focus to the dangerous and highly skilled Baraou, who represents the toughest challenge yet in his young career. "Beating Julian Williams gave me a lot of confidence, but I’m not satisfied," said Tellez, who is co-promoted by Boxlab Promotions and Warriors Boxing. "I learned a lot from that fight, and I’m bringing that momentum into the ring against Baraou. He’s a talented fighter, and I respect what he’s done in his career. But on fight night, I’m going to show why I’m the champion."

 

A victory over Baraou could set the stage for Tellez to be elevated to the full WBA title. "This fight is a major step for me," Tellez continued. "When I win, I’ll be in position to fight as the [full WBA] champion. That means big fights, big opportunities, and a chance to keep proving I’m the best at 154 pounds."

 

For the second time in less than six months, Tellez will be showcased on DAZN, giving fans worldwide a front-row seat to his journey. "Fighting on DAZN again is huge for me," Tellez added. "It’s a global platform, and I want to keep building my name, so everyone knows who Yoenis Tellez is."

 

Amaury Piedra, President of Boxlab Promotions, articulated his enthusiasm about Tellez’s trajectory and the significance of this fight. "Yoenis has all the tools to be a superstar," Piedra said. "His win over Julian Williams proved he belongs at the top, and a victory against Baraou will put him in line for the WBA [full] title. It’s been incredible working alongside Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian at Most Valuable Promotions—our shared vision for Yoenis’ career is paying off, and the fans are seeing something special unfold."

 

Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.