William Zepeda Outworks Lamont Roach Jr. for WBC Title with 118-110 Scorecard

William Zepeda secured the vacant WBC lightweight title at The Theater at Virgin Hotels, defeating Lamont Roach Jr. by unanimous decision.

William Zepeda (34-1, 27 KOs) captured the vacant WBC lightweight championship on Saturday night at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, defeating Lamont Roach Jr. via unanimous decision. The three judges ringside turned in scorecards of 117-111, 117-111, and 118-110 in favor of Zepeda. This victory marks the first major world title for the Mexican southpaw, coming just over a year after he suffered his lone career defeat against Shakur Stevenson in July 2025.

The championship became available after the WBC stripped Stevenson of the 135-pound belt following his move to the 140-pound division. Stevenson vacated the position shortly after securing the WBO junior welterweight title by defeating Teofimo Lopez. Zepeda utilized a relentless, high-volume punching strategy to overwhelm Roach over the full 12-round distance. The bout featured open scoring, with the official tallies being disclosed to both corners and the audience following the conclusion of the fourth and eighth rounds.

Zepeda Overcomes Roach’s Counter-Punching

Lamont Roach Jr. (25-2-3, 10 KOs) entered the ring following a pair of majority draws in 2025, having split points with Gervonta "Tank" Davis in March and Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz in December. Throughout the contest, Roach successfully landed a significant right hand as Zepeda pressured forward, but he was unable to sustain combinations or find a singular punch to halt his opponent's momentum. Despite these flashes of success, the challenger could not match the suffocating pace established by Zepeda, who maintained his activity level from the opening bell through the final frame.

Zepeda addressed his previous loss to Stevenson through an interpreter, describing that defeat as a humbling exam he was unable to pass at the time. He noted that his team took the intervening months to address specific weaknesses, leading to a stronger return to the ring. Roach struggled to find opportunities to turn the tide as he trailed on the scorecards late in the fight, ultimately falling short in his bid for the vacant crown.

Muratalla Dominates Conceicao in Co-Main Event

In the evening's co-main event, Raymond Muratalla (25-0, 17 KOs) successfully defended his IBF lightweight title with a one-sided unanimous decision over Robson Conceicao. The judges scored the lopsided affair 118-110, 119-109, and 119-109 for the undefeated champion. Muratalla, currently ranked as the No. 2 lightweight by ESPN, utilized superior speed and accuracy to dictate the tempo against the former WBC junior lightweight titleholder.

Conceicao (19-4-1, 9 KOs) spent the majority of the twelve rounds fighting off his back foot, absorbing heavy shots while attempting to navigate Muratalla's constant pressure. Following the victory, Muratalla announced his intention to vacate his IBF 135-pound strap to pursue titles in the 140-pound junior welterweight division. Like the main event, this bout also utilized open scoring, providing transparency on the judges' views after the fourth and eighth rounds.

Statistical Breakdown and Lightweight Landscape

Zepeda’s performance was characterized by a nonstop flurry of punches that gradually wore down Roach's endurance. While Roach remained competitive by standing his ground and waiting for counter-punching windows, he was outworked by a champion who refused to let up. The victory places Zepeda at the top of a shifting lightweight landscape recently vacated by Stevenson.

With Muratalla planning an immediate move to the 140-pound class, the lightweight division continues to see significant movement among its top-ranked competitors. Zepeda now exits the weekend with a career-best performance and a 97% winning percentage across his 35 professional outings. Roach leaves Las Vegas with his second career loss, ending a streak of three consecutive fights without a victory following his two draws earlier in the calendar year.