Lamont Roach eyes lightweight unification if he beats William Zepeda

Two world title fights on Saturday night at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas could produce a lightweight championship unification later in 2026.

That’s according to WBC challenger Lamont Roach Jr., who takes on William Zepeda for the vacant title.

Their headline bout takes place after an IBF title fight involving the defending champion, Raymond Muratella and the challenger, Robson Concaicao.

Should Roach and Muratella both triumph, Lamont expects they would unify the WBC and IBF titles next.

“If Muratalla handles his business and I handle mine, it makes business sense [to fight next],” Roach told FIGHT SPORTS. 

“It’s very appetizing,” he said.

Roach must first get past Zepeda, a volume-puncher who is one of the biggest names in Oscar de la Hoya’s stable at Golden Boy Promotions.

It provides a chance for Roach to bring to an end a winless run that saw him pick up draws against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Isaac Cruz – fights, he told us, he was robbed of the victory in.

And so now he wants to take any frustrations out on Zepeda, remove the need for judging, and get the finish, instead.

In a statement sent to FIGHT SPORTS, it’s action Zepeda expects. “He’s a beast,” he said. “And I’m the same way. It’s going to be a war on Saturday.” 

At Friday’s weigh-in, all four lightweights involved in the unofficial, four-man 135-pound round-robin made weight. Roach weighed 134.6 pounds — the same as Zepeda. Muratella also came in at 134.6 pounds while Conceicao entered on the limit at 135.

Other notable fights on the card include Raul Curiel’s super lightweight showdown with Quintin Randall, Charles Conwell against Paul Kroll, and rising star, Joel Iriarte, versus Jorge Lagunas.