Lamont Roach Jr. vs William Zepeda Set for Vacant WBC Lightweight Title

American boxer Lamont Roach Jr. and Mexico's William Zepeda will contest the vacant WBC lightweight world title on August 1, 2026 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The belt became vacant after Shakur Stevenson was stripped for refusing to pay a sanctioning fee. Roach, a former WBA super‑featherweight champion, enters with a 25‑1‑3 record and recent draws against Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz. Zepeda, the former WBC interim lightweight champion, holds a 33‑1 record with 27 knockouts and is seeking a second shot after a unanimous‑decision loss to Stevenson. The bout headlines a Golden Boy Promotions card and will be broadcast live on DAZN, TNT, and TruTV, with an undercard featuring Raymond Muratalla vs Robson Conceição and other lightweight contests. Betting odds list Roach as the -146 favorite. Both fighters emphasize the fight’s significance, noting the chance to claim a world title after previous setbacks.