Herrera (18-0, 16 KO) won the WBC interim lightweight title with an eighth-round knockout of Ricardo Núñez on January 10. This legal obligation complicates any immediate reunification plans Roach may have for the end of 2026.

Roach still prioritizes a fight with Shakur Stevenson, which will bring a high win, although this fight will no longer be a featherlight unification fight.

“Shakur Stevenson is one of the best fighters in the world. I would love to stand in the ring with Shakur. It would be one of the best fights in boxing,” Roach said. Fight.

Following his January victory over Lopez, Stevenson is the current WBO junior welterweight champion. A fight with Roach would require “The Reaper” to enhance weight or Stevenson give up his 140-pound titles.

Roach also identified WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason as a person of interest.

“I like all the champions at 135. I like Abdul Mason. He’s an amazing juvenile champion. I think he beats Joe Cordina and we’ll see how it works,” Roach said.

Mason (20-0) is currently preparing for his first title defense against former champion Joe Cordina on July 4 in Cleveland. This timeline further narrows the window for a potential reunion if Roach passes Zepeda.

Perhaps the most intriguing name on Roach’s list is Subriel Matias. While Roach noted that “Matias is a good fighter too,” the Puerto Rican is currently titleless. Matias suffered a major setback on January 10, 2026, when he was stopped in five rounds by Dalton Smith at the Barclays Center.

It’s worth noting that Roach didn’t mention current WBA 140-pound champion Gary Antuanne Russell. Russell successfully defended his title with a unanimous decision victory over Andy Hiraoka on February 21, representing a much more hazardous but title-laden path in the junior welterweight division.

Despite his upcoming fight with William Zepeda, who remains the statistical leader in punch count, Roach has made it clear that he expects to win the green and gold belt.

“This is not just a rumor. It has been officially ordered by the WBC and we will fight for the vacant title,” Roach said. I will emerge victorious. I’m just cheerful to be in the situation I’m in. I will be able to showcase my skills again and we will win, become champions and take us to where we need to be. One step closer to the changing of the guard.”

Roach hasn’t recorded a win since 2024, but his stock remains high after back-to-back majority draws against Gervonta Davis in March 2025 and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in December 2025.

Sanctioning authorities have yet to comment on the elbow shots identified during David Benavidez’s arrest of Gilberto Ramirez, even though replays of the footage raise questions about the finish.

World Boxing News identified the incidents during a review after viewers marked the final exchange and slow-motion replays appeared to show multiple elbow strikes during the barrage that ended the fight.

Sanctioning the silence of the body

The footage has already raised questions about whether it should have been dealt with. Why the final moments passed without review remains unclear and there has been no official confirmation from the sport’s governing bodies.

In its official report of the fight, the World Boxing Association focused on Benavidez’s “devastating display of power” in winning the cruiserweight title, detailing the sixth-round stoppage without addressing the elbow contact seen on the replay.

This omission is conspicuous. Despite the clips circulating, neither the World Boxing Association nor the World Boxing Organization has provided any review or explanation.

Under boxing rules, elbow contact can result in a point deduction or disqualification, depending on weight and intent. No such action was taken during the fight and no further explanation has been provided since.

Footage from the elbow is eye-catching

The footage and still images are so clear that they require careful analysis. No one is taking anything away from David Benavidez, who probably would have earned a break anyway. However, the problem is the lack of confirmation – especially when the contact is apparent on the replay.

At a minimum, events should be recorded. Even a brief acknowledgment that there was elbow contact would bring clarity. Instead, no governing body signaled any review, leaving the situation without explanation after a night in which Benavidez dominated Gilberto Ramirez and later set the terms for their cruiserweight rivals.

The problem is no longer what happened – that is why it has not been solved.

Because the evidence is in the public domain and no official position has been provided, the issues raised by the termination remain unresolved.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

Former WBC heavyweight world champion Frank Bruno has shared his thoughts ahead of the ‘Battle of Britain’ between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury scheduled for later this year, which is expected to be the biggest fight in British boxing history.

Bruno seemed to be the man to break the British heavyweight madness, as Britain had failed to produce a champion in the division in the 20th century, when the ‘True Briton’ was a stern contender in the 1980s.

However, Bruno was instead knocked out by Tim Witherspoon and Mike Tyson in two title fights before Lennox Lewis became the country’s first heavyweight world champion since Bob Fitzsimmons in 1899 when he was elevated to the title in 1992.

The following year, Lewis and Bruno met in what was deemed to be a showdown dubbed the “Battle of Britain”, as Bruno was unsuccessful in his bid for a third world titlebut ultimately won the heavyweight crown in 1995.

This duo started a recent era, and in the following years a host of British heavyweights became world champions. Now, 33 years after Lewis-Bruno, the two-time reigning duo are set to collide in a blockbuster blockbuster at Wembley Stadium, Bruno said No seconds that Joshua’s mentality would prove decisive.

“Anthony Joshua, I don’t know what kind of attitude he comes with. If he comes and likes the job, he will be a risky guy and he can punch difficult. They know each other and I hope it will be a good fight and that the better one will win because I like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua too.

I think it’s a good move [Joshua training with Usyk]. This is all a good experience for Anthony Joshua. Joshua has everything, he looks like a gorilla and if he believes in himself, he can punch a tree trunk, but if he doesn’t believe in himself, Tyson Fury [can cause problems]. If he’s in a good mood, I don’t see him having a problem.

For the Joshua-Fury fight to take place, “AJ” must first send Albanian Kristian Prenga, with whom the fight will take place on Saturday, July 25 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.