Zepeda Vs. Roach Eyed For June

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As a compromise, the WBC has mandated that the winner of the June 20 clash must make their very first defense against Herrera. Zepeda is on the comeback trail. His last outing in July 2025 resulted in a unanimous decision loss to Shakur Stevenson—the first defeat of his career. Roach Jr. has secured controversial majority draws against Gervonta Davis (March 2025) and Isaac Cruz (December 2025) in his last two fights.

The Approach

Known for throwing upwards of 80 to 100 punches per round, Zepeda’s approach will be no different. After his loss to Shakur, Zepeda’s team has likely doubled down on his “cutting off the ring” tactics. Against a mover like Roach, Zepeda cannot simply follow him; he must step across Roach’s lead foot to trap him against the ropes where his volume is most effective.

Against Roach, Zepeda will likely use “non-committal” punches—tapping the gloves and shoulders—just to keep Roach’s hands in a high guard, before landing hooks to the body. Roach’s goal will be to make Zepeda pay for his high output by timing the gaps between Zepeda’s combinations. Roach fights best when he can draw an opponent in, slip a lead shot, and return with a sharp check hook or a straight right hand. During the Gervonta Davis fight, Roach used subtle lateral steps to keep Davis from setting his feet for power shots.