According to Dan Rafael’s report, discussions between the two parties are ongoing, even though the specific venue for the event remains undecided.
This contest is set to occupy the vacant 135-pound spot, arising from recent shifts among the division’s elite, offering Zepeda and Roach Jr an immediate opportunity for a complete world championship, bypassing any temporary stages.
Zepeda has established his standing via continuous engagement and aggressive fighting styles, whereas Roach Jr joins these discussions following consecutive 12-round stalemates against Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis.
Although both parties have conceptually consented to the fight, they are presently resolving the organizational specifics. The victor of this encounter is slated to compete against Jadier Herrera, the current holder of the WBC interim championship, in a compulsory unification bout later in the year.
Observers within the boxing world propose that the WBC preferred a Zepeda-Roach matchup, believing it would yield greater sanctioning revenues and broader global appeal compared to a contest featuring the less prominent, yet formidable, WBC interim titleholder Jadier Herrera.
Earlier in the current year, the WBC promoted other interim titleholders to undisputed status directly upon a championship becoming open. By compelling Herrera to delay, they have effectively communicated that his “world title” serves merely as a provisional designation.
Despite Roach’s reputation improving due to his impressive showings against “Tank” Davis and “Pitbull” Cruz, the official statistics remain unequivocal. He has not secured an official victory since successfully defending his 130-pound title against Feargal McCrory in mid-2024. Granting an opportunity for a vacant title in an elevated weight division based on two draws is a decision rarely sanctioned in other athletic competitions.
Zepeda’s most recent appearance resulted in a definitive defeat by Shakur Stevenson. Although he holds the top contender ranking, the assertion that he “merited” this particular vacant spot ahead of the individual presently possessing a version of the championship belt lacks strong justification.
