“I’m supposed to be here, and I’m fulfilling my destiny,” said Roach.
“William Zepeda is a top contender, and we wouldn’t want this fight for the vacant title to be against anyone other than someone of his level.”
“I’m working my ass off in camp to do everything I can to take this belt home.”
“On August 1, I’ll claim my second world title in my second division, and the sky’s the limit.”
For Roach (25-1-3, 10 KOs), victory would cement his status as a two-division world champion. Defeat, however, would halt the momentum he has built in recent years and raise questions about whether the lightweight division presents a challenge too steep to overcome.
Standing opposite him will be Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs), a volume-punching pressure fighter who has earned a reputation as one of the most physically demanding opponents at 135 pounds.
Zepeda acknowledged the significance of the occasion while making it clear that he intends to leave Las Vegas with the title.
“First of all, I want to thank Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions and Mauricio Sulaimán for this opportunity. We have a great challenge in front of us, and we’ve been preparing for it for a long time,” said Zepeda.
“I know Lamont is a fighter with tremendous experience who is coming to win, but we have the same mentality.”
“On August 1, we plan on taking that belt home.”
“We know Roach has proven his quality at the highest level, but we have also gained valuable experience in major fights. We have worked hard for this opportunity, and we are ready to give the fans a great fight.”
Roach has repeatedly spoken of destiny in the buildup to the fight. On August 1, he will step into the ring convinced that his path has led him to a second divisional title. Whether he finds championship glory or something far less satisfying remains to be seen. After all, fighters do not always like what they find when they finally reach the destination they have spent years pursuing.
