Lamont Roach Says William Zepeda Must Stick To His Game Plan

“He’s very consistent with his style. He doesn’t really change it up. It’s worked for him his whole career. He overwhelms a lot of guys, and he does it very well. He’s always on the attack. He’s fierce,” Roach said to Golden Boy Boxing.

“He can’t afford to steer off his game plan with me. I’ll try to capitalize as much as I can with the opportunities that I see.”

The matchup pits two fighters with contrasting strengths against one another. Zepeda has built his reputation on relentless volume and constant pressure, wearing opponents down over the course of a fight. Roach, meanwhile, has earned praise for his timing, sharp counterpunching and composure, qualities he showcased in last year’s draw with Gervonta Davis and title-winning victory over Hector Garcia in 2023.

Zepeda acknowledged that he must stay disciplined against a fighter who thrives on mistakes. Reflecting on his loss to Shakur, he said learning to control his emotions was one of the biggest lessons of his career, and he intends to apply that experience against Roach.

“I know I can’t lose my focus in a fight with him. I know he’s always waiting to land his best punches,” Zepeda said. “But I think the Camarón he’s been watching in previous fights is coming back more aggressive and more intelligent.”

Although neither fighter engaged in trash talk during the faceoff, both made it clear they expect a demanding contest. Roach believes the tactical battle will be decided by discipline as much as skill, while Zepeda insists the version that steps into the ring on August 1 will be different from the one Roach has studied on film.

With the vacant WBC lightweight title at stake, both men are convinced their style will prevail when they finally meet in Las Vegas.