William Zepeda-Lamont Roach Lightweight Title Bout Confirmed

WBC top contenders William Zepeda and Lamont Roach Jr. are finally set to square off after weeks of negotiations, with the fighters agreeing to battle for the vacant WBC world championship on August 1st.

Insider Dan Rafael was the first to report the confirmation on his Substack and had further details.

The Zepeda-Roach bout is expected to headline a Golden Boy Promotions card at the Mandalay Bay Hotel/Arena in Las Vegas, according to a source familiar with the agreement and it will stream live on DAZN. However, it will also air on TNT Sports in the United States as part of their new series called “The Fight.” This is a recently launched partnership that will feature one DAZN event per month simulcast on the cable network.

Rafael further reported that the fight was initially being targeted for much earlier,  June 20th, but scheduling adjustments and other logistical issues pushed it back to August.  Even with the delay, anticipation remains high because both fighters enter the contest looking to claim one of the most recognizable titles in boxing’s lightweight division.

The WBC lightweight belt became vacant after Shakur Stevenson was stripped of the championship in February due to a dispute involving unpaid sanctioning fees. Stevenson has since defeated Teofimo Lopez for his 140 lb. world title and will be staying at junior welterweight.

That opened the door for Zepeda and Roach to compete for the WBC vacant title and establish themselves among the elite fighters at 135 lb.

Zepeda, a 29-year-old Mexican southpaw, enters the fight with a record of 33-1,  27 KOs. Known for his relentless pressure and knockout power, he previously held the WBC interim lightweight title and earned mandatory challenger status before facing Stevenson last July. However, Shakur dominated him by unanimous decision in their main event bout in New York.

Despite the loss, Zepeda’s stock remained high because of his toughness, power, and willingness to engage throughout the fight. He has not competed since the Stevenson defeat and now, returns with an opportunity to capture a full world title.

As for Roach, a former WBA junior lightweight champion from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, he brings a 25-1-3, 10 KOs record into the matchup.

The 30-year-old is coming off two highly debated draws in 2025. In March, Roach fought Gervonta "'Tank" Davis for the WBA world lightweight title in Brooklyn and earned a majority draw in a controversial decision. Roach was getting the better of Davis and many observers believed Davis should have lost a point after taking a knee in the ninth round, but referee Steve Willis did not rule it a knockdown.

Roach later moved up to junior welterweight and battled Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz to another majority draw in an action-packed fight for the WBC interim 140-pound title in San Antonio, TX.

Now, he'll move back down to fight the aggressive Zepeda in this showcase event.