William Zepeda believes the lessons from his lone professional defeat have already made him a better fighter, and he plans to put those adjustments to the test when he faces Lamont Roach Jr. for the vacant WBC lightweight title on August 1 in Las Vegas.
After giving Shakur Stevenson one of the toughest fights of his career before losing a unanimous decision last July, Zepeda spent the past year refining both his technique and his approach. Rather than simply relying on his trademark volume punching, the Mexican contender noted the camp focused on controlling his emotions while fighting with greater patience.
“We knew there were many technical things to improve,” Zepeda said to The Sporting Tribune. “More than anything, it was controlling my emotions, not getting desperate, knowing how to manage the pace of the fight. Those are very important things. You have to stay calm because one combination can get through if you lose your composure. Those were things I worked on in this camp.”
The changes extended beyond the gym. Zepeda entered camp feeling refreshed after taking an extended break following the Shakur fight. He discussed new ideas with his team, brought in a nutrition specialist to prepare meals tailored for athletes, and worked with quality sparring partners to reinforce those changes.
Those lessons have shaped his strategy for Roach, one of the lightweight division’s sharpest counterpunchers. Zepeda knows relentless pressure alone will not be enough against an opponent who thrives on mistakes.
“We have to apply intelligent pressure,” Zepeda said. “Not just pressure for the sake of throwing punches because Roach’s style works well against fighters who are constantly punching. We have to work upstairs, work downstairs, put our combinations together and not stay in one place. Any opening you give Roach, that’s where he can start taking control with his sharp counterpunching.”
Zepeda also stressed the importance of denying Roach those opportunities.
“We have to avoid leaving gaps and not give him chances to work,” Zepeda added.
Friday’s title fight represents another opportunity for Zepeda to show that the Shakur defeat was a turning point rather than a setback. If the technical adjustments translate into the ring while allowing him to maintain his trademark pressure, he could leave Las Vegas with the first world championship of his career.
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Last Updated on 2026/07/28 at 11:11 PM
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