Two of boxing’s elite lightweights are set to collide with a world title on the line as uncrowned champion Lamont “The Reaper” Roach Jr. (25-1-3, 10 KOs) of Washington D.C. and Mexico's William “El Camarón” Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) battle for the vacant WBC lightweight championship on Saturday, Aug. 1st at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. [The title has been vacant since Shakur Stevenson moved up to junior welterweight]. “This is my fourth consecutive world title fight coming up in a different weight class,” said Roach (pictured) “No doubt, I am bringing boxing back, and I’m coming for the top spot. I want the P4P belt layer.”
Headlining TNT Sports and DAZN’s “The Fight,” a new monthly live boxing series, the twelve-round championship showdown will be broadcast co-exclusively in the United States on TNT and truTV and worldwide on DAZN. The general on-sale for tickets begins Friday, June 5th at 10:00 am PT. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com or GoldenBoy.com. Fans can access the special pre-sale on Thursday, June 4 with code: GBPVIP
“We’ve been working hard since my last fight. We’re at the forefront of the lightweight division, and we know every opponent at this level presents a serious challenge,” said Zepeda. “Once again, we’ve been given the opportunity to fight for a world championship, and we’re ready to show the world exactly who ‘El Camarón’ Zepeda is. I hope Lamont comes fully prepared, because we’re going to put on a great show for the fans.”
“William Zepeda has earned every bit of this opportunity,” said promoter Oscar De La Hoya, CEO of Golden Boy. “For years, he has taken on every challenge put in front of him and established himself as one of the most exciting fighters in boxing with his relentless pressure, incredible work rate, and fan-friendly style. On August 1st, fans are going to witness two world-class fighters battle for the WBC Lightweight World Championship, and I expect William Zepeda to show the world why he is one of the very best fighters in the sport today.”
“Lamont Roach has proven he belongs among the very top of the sport. On August 1st, he faces a massive challenge in the relentless William Zepeda,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Lamont is a world-class champion with incredible boxing acumen and D.C. grit. He’ll need every bit of it to turn back one of the most dangerous contenders in the lightweight division in Zepeda. It’s a classic matchup of skill versus pressure but I expect Lamont to fight fire with fire, which means fans at the Virgin hotel and those watching on TNT Sports and DAZN are in for a special night of boxing.”
Additional information on the undercard and media credentials will be announced in the coming weeks.
Roach is one of boxing’s most respected champions, earning recognition for his skill, toughness and willingness to take on the sport’s biggest challenges. Fighting out of and representing the Nation’s Capitol of Washington DC with a record of 25-1-3 (10 KOs), he has competed at the highest level across multiple weight divisions. Roach Jr.’s profile surged in March 2025 when he moved up to lightweight to challenge Gervonta Davis for the WBA lightweight championship. The highly anticipated bout went the distance and ended in a controversial majority draw after twelve competitive rounds, with many fans and observers in the sport believing Roach Jr. had done enough to win. This made Roach an uncrowned champion. Later that year, he tested himself once again by moving up to junior welterweight to face Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, battling to another majority draw.
Before those marquee matchups, Roach captured the WBA junior lightweight championship with a split-decision victory over Hector Luis Garcia, completing a remarkable comeback after the lone loss of his professional career against Jamel Herring in 2019. Today, “The Reaper” remains one of boxing’s most accomplished and battle-tested competitors, continuing to pursue championship success on the sport’s biggest stages.
Zepeda has established himself as one of the lightweight division’s elite contenders, earning a reputation as one of boxing’s most relentless pressure fighters. Most recently, Zepeda challenged the undefeated Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight championship in New York City, pushing the champion with his trademark high-volume attack over twelve competitive rounds. Although the scorecards favored Stevenson, Zepeda’s performance reinforced his standing among the division’s best and elevated his profile on the world stage. The title opportunity came on the heels of a career-defining run that saw Zepeda capture and successfully defend the WBC interim title against former 130-pound champion Tevin Farmer. In November 2024, Zepeda overcame the first knockdown of his professional career to edge Farmer by split decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, claiming the interim title. Four months later, he settled the rivalry in Cancun, Mexico, retaining the belt via decision.
Before his championship run, Zepeda built a strong resume in the lightweight division. His breakout performance came in October 2022 against former 130-pound champion and Olympian Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, where he not only earned a signature victory, but also shattered three CompuBox lightweight records for total punches thrown, jabs attempted in a round and total attempted jabs. He continued his rise with victories over notable names including former world champion Rene Alvarado, former world title challenger Mercito Gesta and former world champion Maxi Hughes. Representing San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, Zepeda has become a fan favorite thanks to his relentless, action-packed style. The Mexican southpaw combines nonstop pressure, elite conditioning and knockout power, making him one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport and a dangerous challenge for anyone in the lightweight division. With his stock rising and valuable experience gained against the sport’s top competition, “Camaron” remains firmly in the world title picture as he looks toward the next chapter of his career.
