Two of boxing’s elite lightweight stars are set to collide with a world title on the line as Lamont “The Reaper” Roach Jr. (25-1-2, 10 KOs) of Washington D.C. and undefeated Mexican sensation William “El Camarón” Zepeda (34-0, 27 KOs) battle for the vacant WBC Lightweight World Championship on Saturday, Aug. 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.(DAZN/TNT)
“This is my fourth consecutive world title fight coming up in a different weight class,” said Roach Jr. “No doubt, I am bringing boxing back, and I’m coming for the top spot. I want the P4P belt layer.”
“We’ve been working hard since my last fight. We’re at the forefront of the lightweight division, and we know every opponent at this level presents a serious challenge,” said Zepeda. “Once again, we’ve been given the opportunity to fight for a world championship, and we’re ready to show the world exactly who ‘El Camarón’ Zepeda is. I hope Lamont comes fully prepared, because we’re going to put on a great show for the fans.”
Fighting out of and representing the Nation’s Capitol of Washington DC with a record of 25-1-3 (10 KOs) and has competed at the highest level across multiple weight divisions. Roach Jr.’s profile surged in March 2025 when he moved up to lightweight to challenge Gervonta Davis for the WBA Lightweight World Championship. The highly anticipated bout went the distance and ended in a controversial majority draw after 12 competitive rounds, with many fans and observers in the sport believing Roach Jr. had done enough to win. Later that year, he tested himself once again by moving up to super lightweight to face Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, battling to another majority draw.
Before those marquee matchups, Roach Jr. captured the WBA Super Featherweight World Championship with a split-decision victory over Hector Luis Garcia, completing a remarkable comeback after the lone loss of his professional career against Jamel Herring in 2019. Today, “The Reaper” remains one of boxing’s most accomplished and battle-tested competitors, continuing to pursue championship success on the sport’s biggest stages.
Zepeda has established himself as one of the lightweight division’s elite contenders, earning a reputation as one of boxing’s most relentless pressure fighters. Most recently, Zepeda challenged undefeated champion Shakur Stevenson for the WBC Lightweight World Championship in New York City, pushing the champion with his trademark high-volume attack over 12 competitive rounds. Although the scorecards favored Stevenson, Zepeda’s performance reinforced his standing among the division’s best and further elevated his profile on the world stage. The title opportunity came on the heels of a career-defining run that saw Zepeda capture and successfully defend the WBC Interim Lightweight World Championship against former world champion Tevin Farmer. In November 2024, Zepeda overcame the first knockdown of his professional career to edge Farmer by split decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, claiming the interim title. Four months later, he settled the rivalry in Cancun, Mexico, retaining the belt after an action-packed 12-round battle
Before his championship run, Zepeda built a strong resume in the lightweight division. His breakout performance came in October 2022 against former world champion and Olympian Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, where he not only earned a signature victory, but also shattered three CompuBox lightweight records for total punches thrown, jabs attempted in a round and total attempted jabs. He continued his rise with victories over notable names including former world champion Rene Alvarado, former world title challenger Mercito Gesta and former world champion Maxi Hughes. Representing San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, Zepeda has become a fan favorite thanks to his relentless, action-packed style.
Additional information undercard will be announced in the coming weeks.
Leave a Reply