Zepeda Dethrones Roach to Win WBC Lightweight Title

Zepeda Storms to Lightweight Glory

William El Camarón Zepeda pulled off one of the more emphatic upsets of the year by outpointing Lamont Roach for the WBC Lightweight World Championship at the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas. Roach, who entered the bout as the betting favorite after tough draws against Gervonta Davis and interim titleholder Isaac Pitbull Cruz, could not match the pace Zepeda set from the opening bell.

Zepeda attacked from the very first round at a tempo many assumed he could not maintain for twelve rounds. Instead, he showed remarkable discipline, smothering Roach's offense and pulling away in the closing rounds to seal a unanimous decision in front of a packed crowd.

Open Scoring Adds New Drama

For the first time, the Nevada State Athletic Commission implemented Open Scoring for the fight, publicly revealing the judges tallies after the fourth and eighth rounds. The move let both corners know exactly where they stood instead of waiting until the final bell, and it kept fans in the arena and at home locked into every exchange down the stretch.

If you're following the scene closely, our Porter, Malignaggi to Call Butterfly Brawl in Santa Monica is worth a look too.

What Comes Next

The WBC had previously crowned Jaider Herrera as interim champion. When Shakur Stevenson vacated the full title, the organization chose to order the Zepeda-Roach fight for the undisputed championship rather than simply elevating Herrera. The next assignment for Zepeda is expected to be Herrera, the Cuban fighter based in Dubai who is promoted by Queensberry.

The Zepeda-Roach card was led by Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions in cooperation with TGB, Top Rank, and ProBox, a rare show of unity among rival promotional companies. Broadcast duties were shared across DAZN as the main platform, TNT as free-to-air coverage in the US, and ESPN KnockOut for audiences across Latin America.

For another recent story from the same corner of the sport, check out Teremoana Eyes Huni, Itauma, Dubois After Savage Clash.

More Big Boxing Moments Ahead in August

The busy month continues with a Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Las Vegas at the Orleans Hotel, organized under the leadership of Michelle Corrales, widow of former champion Diego Corrales. Also in California, Guatemalan idol Lester Martínez will defend his title against tough Luka Plantic from Croatia, in a bout where promoter Garry Jonas of ProBox will run a WBC coordinated experiment having judges score the fight from a studio.

August will also bring a series of tributes to Salvador Sánchez around the anniversary of his passing, including a ceremony at the Chamber of Deputies and traditional observances in Santiago Tianguistenco featuring a mass, a procession to his grave, a boxing card, and a communal meal for attendees.

Did You Know

Salvador Sánchez remains one of the most revered figures in Mexican boxing history. As WBC World Featherweight Champion, he ruled the division through technical mastery, sharp ring intelligence, and relentless stamina, defeating landmark opponents including Wilfredo Gómez, Juan Laporte, and Azumah Nelson, plus two wins over Danny Little Red López. He died in a car accident on August 12, 1982, at just 23 years old, yet his legacy still stands among the greatest in the sport's history.