A statement from Rafael posted on X today clarified that the “WBC did not mandate the bout.” Instead, he noted, “The parties involved presented a finalized agreement to the WBC and sought official sanctioning for the empty championship.”
This clarification sheds light on the process by which the contest involving Lamont Roach Jr. and William Zepeda was brought before the regulatory authority. Given that both combatants were already prominent contenders within the WBC’s lightweight division, the governing body was able to evaluate and endorse the proposition upon its formal submission.
Rafael further indicated that various potential matchups were considered prior to the Roach-Zepeda encounter receiving approval for the available title.
He also pointed out that an interim champion is frequently taken into account when a primary championship is left vacant. However, in this particular case, the WBC sanctioned the Roach-Zepeda suggestion after it was presented as a fully negotiated arrangement between the teams of the two fighters.
The championship became open earlier this year subsequent to ex-titleholder Shakur Stevenson forfeiting the WBC strap after his unification clash with Teofimo Lopez in January. Consequently, the governing organization initiated the procedure to identify a contest that would establish a new lightweight champion.
Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-2, 10 KOs) approaches the prospective match having secured consecutive 12-round draws in championship encounters. Roach initially fought Gervonta Davis to a tie, followed by another deadlock last December against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, who currently possesses the WBC interim junior welterweight championship.
These outcomes have caused some observers to query the rationale behind Roach receiving an additional chance to contend for an unclaimed lightweight championship. William Zepeda (31-1, 27 KOs) enters this contest following his inaugural career loss to Shakur Stevenson, an event that has similarly ignited discussion among supporters regarding the approval of both pugilists for this championship bout.
Should the fight proceed according to schedule, the victor will be crowned the subsequent WBC lightweight champion, claiming one of the most prominent titles in the weight class.
