William Zepeda defeats Roach, captures vacant WBC title

William Zepeda Segura (34-1, 27 KOs) won the WBC World lightweight title, defeating on Saturday night in Las Vegas, Lamont Roach (25-2-3, 10 KOs) via unanimous decision. Judges scored the fight 117:111, 117:111 and 118:110 for Zepeda.

Zepeda landed 218 of his 884 total punches, while Roach landed 153 of 591.

"Against Shakur, it was an exam I couldn't pass," Zepeda said through an interpreter. "And you know what? It was humbling. But we took the time, we came back stronger and worked on the weaknesses and came back, and now we're champion."

Zepeda won the title that became vacant when the WBC stripped Shakur Stevenson of the belt in February, just days after he moved up to superlightweight division and became the WBO junior welterweight champion with a decisive victory over Teofimo Lopez.

In the co-main event, Raymond Muratalla (25-0, 17 KOs) easily outpointed former WBC junior lightweight titleholder Robson Conceicao (19-4-1, 9 KOs) in a one-sided decision to retain his IBF lightweight title.

Muratalla dictated the pace from the start and was too fast, too strong and too accurate for Conceicao, who gamely absorbed several big shots and fought off his back foot most of the way because of Muratalla's pressure.

The judges scored it 118-110, 119-109 and 119-109 for Muratalla, who said he plans to vacate his belt and move up to 140 pounds in pursuit of "any of the champions."