Fighter Interviews: Going One-on-One with Lamont Roach Jr.
When you talk about being truly battle-tested in this modern fight game, you have to talk about Washington D.C.’s own, Lamont Roach Jr.. The boxing world loves to talk about hype trains and clean, undefeated records, but Roach represents that authentic, grit-and-grind culture of a fighter who earned every single inch of his territory the hard way.
When I sat down to discuss his journey, the champion didn’t hold back about the controversial decisions that fueled his fire, and his massive upcoming August 1 clash in Las Vegas against Mexico’s dangerous volume puncher, William Zepeda, for the vacant WBC lightweight title. For Roach, this isn’t just another payday—it’s the definitive moment to clear out all doubts and solidify his spot at the absolute top of the 135-pound division.
Weathering the Storm and Claiming the “A” Side
Roach’s path to this moment reads like a masterclass in resilience. Over the last year, he stepped into the ring as the “B” side against two of the biggest, most intimidating names in the sport: multi-division king Gervonta “Tank” Davis and the rugged Mexican pressure fighter Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. Both fights ended in highly disputed majority draws, with the boxing community still debating how Roach was denied historic victories on both nights.
The most infamous moment came in March 2025 against Davis at the Barclays Center. In the ninth round, Roach landed a stiff delivery that forced Tank to take a knee and retreat to his corner—a clear knockdown that referee Steve Willis somehow failed to call. Had that call been made correctly, Roach would have handed Tank the first official loss of his professional career. Then came the December clash with Pitbull Cruz, where a late-round hand injury sabotaged Roach’s ability to close out a brilliant performance.
“It definitely would’ve felt better if those decisions were wins,” Roach told me, reflecting on the close calls. “But I’m proud of myself. There’s more room to grow. Those fights proved I belong at the absolute top level.” The industry has officially taken notice; for the August 1 showdown against Zepeda, Roach is finally getting the “A” side treatment he earned, standing on the left side of the banners and posters.
Dissecting the Zepeda Puzzle: “He’s Never Faced My Boxing IQ”
William Zepeda enters the August 1 fight coming off a grueling title loss to Shakur Stevenson, but he remains a terrifying out for anyone in the division due to his relentless, high-volume pressure. Roach, however, sees the tactical holes in the Mexican warrior’s approach and plans to exploit them flawlessly.
“We’ll see how Zepeda is able to take what I bring to the table as far as IQ, as far as punching power, as far as my pressure,” Roach stated confidently. While acknowledging that Zepeda brings solid speed and foot pressure, Roach noted a key difference between his upcoming opponent and Pitbull Cruz: “Zepeda lacks that same absolute refusal to back up. When I start hitting him with high-IQ counters, the matrix shifts.”
Hunting Supremacy: The Road to Shakur Stevenson and Keyshawn Davis
Roach isn’t just looking to pick up the WBC strap on August 1; he is hunting for total lightweight supremacy. The champion has made it crystal clear that once he gets past Zepeda, he wants the biggest, most high-leverage fights possible, explicitly targeting a massive showdown with Shakur Stevenson.
The rivalry between Roach and Stevenson has been bubbling on social media for months, dating back to when both operated at 130 pounds. “I still think it’s the best matchup at 135 for sure, especially coming off of the Tank fight,” Roach explained. “Me and him could have settled it for supremacy at 135, but whatever weight it takes place at, it’s going to be the best fight.” Roach revealed he ran into Stevenson in Houston recently, where both fighters agreed they owe it to the culture to make the mega-fight happen. “We chopped it up, and we was just like we got to give the fans what they want,” Roach said. “As long as we both stay on our A game, that’s going to be the fight everyone wants to see.”
My Take: The Takeover is Scheduled
Lamont Roach Jr. has spent his entire career breaking through glass ceilings and proving the doubters wrong. On August 1 in Las Vegas, live on DAZN and TNT Sports, the D.C. sniper has the perfect platform to transform his disputed moral victories into undisputed gold. Zepeda is bringing a storm, but Roach is bringing an elite, battle-tested blueprint designed to weather anything thrown his way.
Check out this Lamont Roach Jr. Training Camp Promo to see his intense preparation ahead of the August 1 return to the ring. This clip highlights the speed and power the champion is bringing to Las Vegas.