Tim Bradley isn’t abandoning Lamont Roach Jr. just yet, but the Hall of Famer admits his confidence has slipped after taking a closer look at William Zepeda’s advantages ahead of Friday’s vacant WBC lightweight title fight in Las Vegas.
Bradley initially leaned toward Roach before taking a deeper look at the matchup. Now, he no longer sounds convinced the former WBA super featherweight champion can keep Zepeda’s relentless attack under control.
“I said Roach, but I’m not confident in my pick at all,” Bradley said on his Into the Storm show.
Bradley’s biggest concern is volume. Roach often fights selectively on offense, while Zepeda throws nearly twice as many punches. He questioned whether judges will reward precision over constant activity if Zepeda controls the pace from the opening bell.
“You got one guy that’s very choosy and the other guy, he don’t give a damn. He’s just letting his hands go,” Bradley said. “Wherever they land, wherever they fall, he in your grill all night.”
Roach’s lone defeat also caught Bradley’s attention. Southpaw Jamel Herring used his size and work rate to earn a unanimous decision, and Bradley sees similarities with what Zepeda brings to the ring.
“The only loss on his resume [came] to a southpaw,” Bradley said. “Herring outworked him.”
That comparison does not guarantee history repeats itself. Roach remains one of the sport’s sharpest technicians and has shown he can frustrate aggressive opponents. His defense gives him a legitimate path to victory if he can disrupt Zepeda’s rhythm.
The real question is whether Roach can build enough of a lead on the scorecards before Zepeda’s pressure begins to pile up.
“It’s like you got a machine in front of you,” Bradley said. “You going to need a knockout, or you going to have to hurt this man really, really bad.”
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Last Updated on 2026/07/30 at 2:59 AM
