William Zepeda’s lone professional defeat may prove to be one of the most valuable experiences of his career. That’s the belief of promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who expects the Mexican contender to apply those lessons when he faces Lamont Roach for the vacant WBC lightweight title on Saturday.
If De La Hoya is right, Roach could have a difficult assignment. Zepeda already swarms opponents with his relentless output and willingness to keep coming forward. A more disciplined version of that style would present an even greater challenge for Roach, whose counterpunching will be tested from the opening bell.
“When he lost against Shakur Stevenson, I was so proud of how he fought. It has to be the toughest fight Shakur ever had. He was getting hit. Shakur figured him out and won the fight because he’s a master boxer. But William Zepeda did incredibly well against a master performer like Shakur. I’m looking for Zepeda to be stronger, faster, and more pressure, but wiser,” De La Hoya said to Ariel Helwani.
Stevenson repeatedly disrupted Zepeda’s rhythm with his footwork, timing and sharp counters, forcing him to solve problems that few previous opponents had presented. De La Hoya believes that experience will pay dividends against Roach, whose style also depends on timing and accurate punching rather than heavy volume.
Roach has the skill to capitalize if Zepeda becomes reckless. But if Zepeda can blend the aggression that carried him to a world title opportunity with the patience De La Hoya expects to see, Roach may spend much of the night trying to keep the Mexican contender from dictating the pace.
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Last Updated on 2026/07/27 at 5:03 PM
