“I think he expected me to come straight forward the whole fight,” Zepeda said to Sean Zittel post-fight. “Instead I boxed smarter, managed my pace, went in and out. I showed I can do more than just throw punches.”
The Mexican southpaw still applied the relentless pressure that has defined his career, but he varied his attack with better footwork and distance management. Rather than giving Roach the same looks throughout the fight, Zepeda repeatedly stepped in to work the body before moving out of range, limiting Roach’s opportunities to land the right hand cleanly.
The changes weren’t accidental.
“We worked on many things,” Zepeda said. “We studied his videos, watched our own fights, improved our preparation, worked with a sports psychologist, and kept improving every day. The mind is the most important muscle.”
Roach reached a similar conclusion after the fight, admitting his team expected a more predictable opponent.
“We thought he was a one-trick pony,” Roach said. “He actually used his feet. He was stepping back and not allowing me to get my counters off. I had to switch a couple things up, but I just didn’t succeed.”
Zepeda also credited the Stevenson defeat for exposing areas that needed improvement. He called that fight “a great exam” and said his team spent the past year correcting the weaknesses it revealed.
The work culminated in the biggest win of his career, as all three judges scored the fight 117-111, 117-111, and 118-110, making Zepeda the new WBC lightweight champion.
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