On Saturday, he showcased improved footwork, better control of distance, and enhanced punch selection, giving him the winning edge against Roach. El Camaron outworked and outlanded Roach through twelve rounds, becoming the opponent to land the most punches against Lamont at 218 punches. An amazing feat considering Roach had fought the likes of Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz.
When asked how he was able to accomplish this, William said the following, “The conditioning, the great preparation, the fortitude, mentally and physically, and having a great game plan.”
Roach was unable to deter or slow Zepeda down, who was relentless with his pressure,
throwing 884 total punches. William overwhelmed Lamont with his volume and pressure.
Zepeda’s trainer Jay Najar, who is referred to as Panda, said after the Shakur fight, they were
criticized, but they continued and did better.
They made improvements in all facets of their team that would make El Camaron a better overall fighter. The chef and nutritionist were instrumental in creating a diet that would allow Zepeda to have improved conditioning and endurance. In camp, they worked on boxing skills that allowed William to make the necessary adjustments that were key in giving him the victory.
Both fighter and trainer became emotional when the winner of the match was announced,
embracing each other for accomplishing what they’ve dedicated their lives to: a world title.
When asked what it meant for him to be a world champion, Zepeda was filled with
emotion, crying and responding with what he could say, “This is what I always dreamt of, so
many nights I had to go to sleep to wake up early and run in the morning.”
William stated he would like to become undisputed champion at lightweight. The co-main featured Raymond Muratalla versus Robson Conceicao with Muratalla winning a unanimous decision. Raymond said after the fight he would be moving up to 140 pounds, so a Zepeda-Muratalla fight may not happen anytime soon. The WBO lightweight champion was in attendance, and that is a viable option in the future for William, who said for now he wanted to get some badly needed rest, celebrate, and enjoy the victory with his family.
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