A State of Mind: Abass Baraou explains why inactivity isn’t a problem for him

On Friday night (March 1) Sam Eggington and Abass Baraou will fight for the vacant European super-welterweight title in Telford. Thousands of miles away with the blue skies of sunny Miami behind him Boxing News caught up with a relaxed Baraou to chat about the fight, his life in Togo and Germany, whether or not “ring rust” exists, and his hopes of landing a rematch against Jack Culcay.


Interview by Shaun Brown


BN: Letโ€™s jump straight into talking about your next fight against Sam Eggington. What do you know about him and what kind of fight are you expecting?

AB: Iโ€™m expecting a good fight. Iโ€™ve seen a couple of his fights. I know heโ€™s been a right warrior and in quite good fights. Heโ€™s a tough opponent and has all the pedigree to make it tough for his opponents. Iโ€™m expecting a good, technical fight from my side and an exciting fight. One that Iโ€™m looking forward to. Tune in and expect to see Abass in full flow.

BN: This is your third fight in the UK. What are your memories of the first two?

AB: The first one was against John Oโ€™Donnell at the O2 Arena and then I was lucky to fight at the York Hall last year. I had quite good memories. The [UK] boxing scene is quite active, the fans are loud and really engaging. Itโ€™s always been a good journey in London where I feel closer to boxing. I always enjoy fighting in London and in the UK.

BN: Whatโ€™s the boxing scene like in Germany at the moment?

AB: Thereโ€™s a lot of interest. The quality is not as high as in the UK and the US, but we had some good times back in the day with a lot of world champions where there was a lot of special talents. But the demand and the quality has gone back but there are still a lot of boxing fans in Germany; a few are following my journey. Itโ€™s active but a bit silent.

BN: You were born in Germany then you and your family moved to Togo, is that right?

AB: I was born in Germany, raised in Togo, come back when I was nine and started boxing in Germany.

BN: What was life like for you in Togo?

AB: Quite good memories. When youโ€™re young you donโ€™t have responsibilities… I remember playing with my cousins and uncles. I have quite a big family. I have very good memories. Itโ€™s my roots, itโ€™s where I come from. Iโ€™m also happy to have experienced growing up in Togo. I have Togolese traditions in me.

BN: Have you had much opportunity to go back since then?

AB: I really havenโ€™t been back yet. Itโ€™s been 20 years. My mum goes every year but this year I have to go! Itโ€™s been 20 years without seeing my family. Iโ€™m looking forward to going back as soon as possible. Iโ€™m missing it.

BN: Whatโ€™s your earliest memory of being back in Germany?

AB: I remember coming back and going to school and doing well even with broken German. After three months I learned to speak it [properly]. I was in Germany with my mum and my brother. Good memories with them in Oberhausen and making a few friends and it felt like home right away.

BN: Fifteen fights since your pro debut in April 2018, have you been as active as you would have liked?

AB: I have been active at the beginning of my career. With the pandemic came a lot of inactivity and then coming to England to fight because the German market was difficult. In the last three years I havenโ€™t been as active as I wanted to be but Iโ€™ve been in the gym every day, still progressing, and Iโ€™m happy to have the European title on the line now. Iโ€™m looking forward to getting back to being active.

BN: Some fighters talk about โ€œring rustโ€. Is that something you believe in?

AB: I think itโ€™s all a state of mind. Iโ€™ve been having hard sparring; tougher than some fights I had. I feel like if youโ€™re mentally ready thereโ€™s no ring-rust. I donโ€™t believe in it. I know itโ€™s there, but I think itโ€™s a state of mind. I donโ€™t have it. I go out and do my thing like always so I donโ€™t believe in it.

BN: Youโ€™ve only experienced one defeat, a very narrow one to Jack Culcay. Is that a loss you would look to avenge given heโ€™s soon to be fighting for the IBF super-welterweight world title (against Bakhram Murtazaliev)?

AB: Of course. Me and the team have been chasing him for a while to get the rematch done. It he gets the world title that would make it really interesting for me. Iโ€™ve wanted the rematch but heโ€™s avoiding it. I need to move on with my journey, but itโ€™d be interesting him winning the world title fight. I still definitely want revenge for the loss. I hope he gets the win and we can make the fight happen.

BN: Is the super-welterweight division worldwide in a good state right now?

AB: Thereโ€™s a lot of movement in the division right now. Itโ€™s good for me and Iโ€™m happy that Iโ€™m getting back on my journey and I can look forward to get the title fight and thatโ€™s what I want. I want to fight the best in the division and become a world champion.

BN: One of the best at 154lbs right now is Tim Tszyu. He fights Keith Thurman on March 30. How do you see that fight going?

AB: I think Thurman has been inactive for a while. Tszyu is in the right place and thereโ€™s no doubt heโ€™s going to win the fight.

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