The story leading into Lamont Roach’s challenge to win the vacant WBC World Lightweight championship on August 1st against top contender William Zepeda was whether or not after two draws in his last two fights, he would get back in the winner’s circle. Whether or not he would get a fair shake from the judges scoring the bout after two fights that many felt he deserved the decisions rather than each being scored even. While the central story going into the encounter at the Virgin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV centered on Roach, what was not necessarily given much attention was that for William Zepeda, this fight represented his second opportunity to challenge for the WBC world championship in the Lightweight division after coming up short in his only career defeat last summer against then WBC world champion Shakur Stevenson.
It did not take long for the miscalculation of those who put the focus squarely on Roach to emerge in the fight. There were periods throughout the fight where Roach would have points of success landing countering the constant pressure attack of Zepeda, but it was as the fight progressed that the consistent volume of punches from Zepeda that became the story of the fight. By applying constant pressure on Roach, consistently forcing him backward and landing combinations, mixed with power punches, Zepeda controlled the action.
This was the consistent pattern of the fight in that each round would consist of Zepeda coming forward behind a constant volume of punches and often walking through whatever Roach had to offer in terms of his own offense and pushing the former World Jr. Lightweight champion back. There were times throughout the scheduled twelve round world championship bout that it appeared the constant pressure attack would break Roach down in the middle and late rounds. Much to his credit, however, despite on this night being outgunned by a relentless opponent, who simply would not take no for an answer, Roach was able to make it to the final bell. A valiant effort in losing a lopsided twelve round unanimous decision. While Lamont Roach has now gone three fights without a victory and may likely see the winless streak extend into 2027, assuming that he may not compete again for the remainder of 2026, the focus now shifts to the new champion William Zepeda, who now reigns as the WBC World Lightweight champion.
Frankly, prior to his loss last year to Shakur Stevenson, This observer felt that William Zepeda had the potential to be the future of the 135lb. Lightweight division. There is certainly no shame in dropping a decision to a fighter like Shakur Stevenson, who has proven to be a generational talent in the sport of Boxing and may at the end of his career be considered an all-time great fighter. In most cases, even the greatest of fighters all drop a few fights along the way during their careers and there are times where those setbacks end up being footnotes in the story of a great career. Having said all of that, this observer will be the first to admit that though no one should ever outright dismiss any fighter or their chances in a fight because after all, anything can happen, I felt going into the fight that the momentum was on the side of Roach based largely on his previous two performances and it was surprising in some ways that Zepeda was able to flip the script to such a degree that he pretty much dominated a fight that he was not expected to win in the eyes of many.
In previewing this fight, yours truly stated that Roach vs. Zepeda would keep the focus on the 135lb. Lightweight division that has seen WBO world champion Abdullah Mason recently retain his version of the World Lightweight championship with a victory over Albert Bell on July 4th and that the winner of this bout would be in position to potentially seek unification bouts with either Mason or current IBF world champion Raymond Muratalla. Coincidentally, Raymond Muratalla was able to score a lopsided twelve round unanimous decision over former WBC Jr. Lightweight world champion Robson Conceicao on the undercard of Zepeda’s title win against Roach. Stylistically, a fight between Zepeda and Muratalla appears as though it would be an all-action fight between two fighters that like to come forward and each having punching power. Perhaps, a potential unification bout between the two might be the most attractive option on the table for both fighters. It should also not be dismissed, despite coming out on the losing end of this fight that Lamont Roach will continue to be in contention and could remain in the mix of potential challengers in the Lightweight division. Whether Roach’s name recognition will lead to another opportunity to challenge for a world championship in his next fight or if he will need to have a fight or two to get himself back into position remains to be seen.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
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