Boxing
The intel Lamont Roach Jr. gained from William Zepeda's loss to Shakur Stevenson
Watch Roach vs. Zepeda on DAZN - August 1
Just as Lamont Roach Jr. will be summoning everything in his power to avoid a third consecutive draw, William Zepeda will be looking this weekend to rebound from his first professional defeat.
Roach admittedly watched Zepeda losing to Shakur Stevenson via unanimous decision from last July several times. He plans on using that gathered intel Saturday night when he clashes with the Mexican at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, and live on DAZN, with one exception.
Where Stevenson pitched a boxing masterclass en route to a near shutout, Roach believes he can not only outbox Zepeda, but hurt the Mexican fighter in their bout for the vacant WBC lightweight world title.
“We’re going to take advantage of some of the defensive lapses that he has just like Shakur did and pick and choose our spots,” Roach vowed to DAZN News during a recent interview over Zoom. “But we’re going to crack him.”
The Stevenson-Zepeda bout had the former patient against the latter’s press, surgically picking him apart behind the jab and stinging counterpunches when the Mexican fighter pressured into the pocket. Though Zepeda knocked Stevenson off balance with a right hand amidst a full-on blitz during the third round, Stevenson more than recovered en route to completing the brilliant sweet science display.
What makes Roach special is he can box and get gritty in the pocket when necessary with his scrappy style. After all, he stood up to the explosive Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis unscathed last March and although he tasted the canvas against Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, Roach made the apt adjustments to arguably have his hand raised.
The urgency to win following those draws had Roach leaning into the Stevenson-Zepeda fight footage even more.
“We learned a lot from that fight,” Roach divluged. “We still watch it, so there’s things we’re learning about it. Obviously, we know that Zepeda is not in there just to … he’s hungry. That’s the obvious thing. We know that he’s going to throw a billion punches.
“He’s a high-volume, high-pressure fighter guy,” the former super featherweight titleholder continued. “Those are the main problems that he’ll present for anyone — not just me.”
In needing to take the fight out of judges’ hands, Roach will need to find answers every time Zepeda pressures. Stevenson already did.
Now, Roach will try to do it even more emphatically.
