A vacant WBC lightweight title clash between William Zepeda and Lamont Roach Jr. is being targeted for June. The matchup will determine a new champion at 135lbs following the departure of Shakur Stevenson, whose reign ended amid a dispute with the WBC. Zepeda and Roach currently hold the top two positions in the organization’s rankings.
Zepeda, the No. 1 contender, has not fought since his decision loss to Stevenson in July 2025. Prior to that, he secured back-to-back wins over Tevin Farmer, including a majority decision in their rematch.
Roach, ranked No. 2, enters the fight after two high-profile draws in 2025. His bout with Gervonta Davis ended in controversy after a missed knockdown call, while his clash with Isaac Cruz saw him recover from a knockdown but fall short on the scorecards.
The fight is expected to be facilitated by the renewed partnership between Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN, which provides greater flexibility in scheduling.
Under WBC rules, the winner will be required to face interim titleholder Jadier Herrera next.
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