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Roach vs. Zepeda for the vacant WBC lightweight title on August 1

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Lamont “The Reaper” Roach Jr. and William “El Camarón” Zepeda will fight for the vacant WBC lightweight world title on Saturday, August 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, announced promoter Golden Boy. The 12-round fight will headline “The Fight,” a fresh monthly series from TNT Sports and DAZN that will air in the United States on TNT and truTV and stream globally on DAZN. Golden Boy promotes itself in cooperation with TGB Promotions and ProBox Promotions.

Roach Jr. (25-1-3, 10 KO) of Washington, D.C., and Zepeda (33-1, 27 KO) of San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, arrived after back-to-back title fights without a win. Last year, Roach Jr. he has fought two majority draws: against Gervonta Davis for the WBA lightweight title in March 2025 and against Isaac Cruz at super lightweight in December 2025. Zepeda has not fought since taking a unanimous decision to Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight title in July 2025, the only loss of his career.

How the title became empty

The WBC lightweight championship opened after Stevenson moved up to 140 pounds. He collected the WBO junior welterweight title from Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden on January 31becoming a four-division champion, after which the WBC declared his 135-pound title vacant. The sanctioning body later ordered Roach Jr. and Zepeda meet for the belt.

“We have been working demanding since my last fight,” Zepeda said in a press release. “We are at the top of the lightweight division and we know that any opponent at this level is a sedate challenge. Once again we have been given the opportunity to fight for the world championship and we are ready to show the world who exactly “El Camarón” Zepeda is. “

Roach Jr., who won the WBA super featherweight title with a split decision victory over Héctor García in November 2023, billed the fight as the next step in his class. “This is my fourth consecutive world title fight in a different weight class,” he said. “Without a doubt, I am bringing boxing back and fighting for the top spot.”

“William Zepeda has fully deserved this opportunity,” said Oscar De La Hoya, president and CEO of Golden Boy. “Over the years, he has taken on every challenge put before him and has established himself as one of the most thrilling fighters in boxing with his relentless pressure, incredible work rate and fan-friendly style.”

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m. PT on AXS.com and GoldenBoy.com for $300, $200, $150, $75, $50 and $30 plus applicable fees. Pre-sale will start on Thursday, June 4. Details about the card and credentials will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Heavyweight KO Artist Teremoana Joins Fury vs Joshua Card After Early Knockout Victory

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"Heavyweight KO Artist Teremoana Joins Fury vs Joshua Card After Early Knockout Victory"

Fight fans are keen for an announcement of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua, but one further detail about the proposed event emerged after a heavyweight fighter was in action on Matchroom’s show in Queensland, Australia today.

The heavyweight division is currently searching for its new superstars, and Australia has an intriguing offering in Teremoana Teremoana, who had won by knockout in all 11 of his professional contests prior to today; nine of those stoppages coming in the opening round and the remaining two coming in round two.

Consequently, the 28-year-old is deemed to be one to watch in the heavyweight division, but in Queensland, he was tasked with his most difficult opponent to date in Michigan-born DeAndre Savage, who had also won inside of the distance in all 11 of his victories but suffered a maiden defeat to Brandon Moore last September.

Trained by former WBC super-welterweight world champion Tony Harrison, 35-year-old Savage looked wary from the get-go and Teremoana wasted no time in getting to work in his first main event, as the imposing 6’6” Aussie heavyweight quickly assumed control of the contest and showed tremendous hand speed for his size.

Still, Savage survived a one-sided opening round without hitting the deck, despite a terrified look in his eye throughout the opening three minutes. The American would not be so lucky in the second, buzzed early in the round and then dropped after Teremoana landed a duo of straight right-hands to the temple.

Savage did not attempt to beat the count, instead crawling to a knee and waiting keenly for referee Phil Austin to finish his 10-count, awarding Teremoana with a 12th consecutive knockout as a professional without fighting ever beyond round two.

In his post-fight interview on the DAZN broadcast, after treating the fans to a haka in the ring, Teremoana shared news that he would be appearing on the Fury-Joshua undercard.

“What I have heard on the grapevine is that I should be on the AJ-Fury undercard.”

Eddie Hearn then confirmed the idea, but recognised that he will need to increase the level of his opposition for a fight on a card of such magnitude.

“That is definitely the plan, but we have got to step up the opposition.”

Despite those words, Eddie Hearn recently threatened to call the Fury-Joshua fight offif a premature announcement for the event to be in America is made any time soon.

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Undefeated KO Artist Claims His Power Will Be Too Much for Dmitry Bivol

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"Undefeated KO Artist Claims His Power Will Be Too Much for Dmitry Bivol"

Unified light-heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol is regarded as the very best at 175lbs, but there is a new player in the division who believes that he can be the first to knock the slick Russian out.

Bivol became the first fighter to take Artur Beterbiev the distance when the pair collided for the undisputed title back in October 2024, but it was Beterbiev who claimed a majority-decision win and made history by becoming the first undisputed light-heavyweight ruler of the four-belt era.

However, just four months later, Bivol became the second, as he avenged his solitary career defeat with a majority-decision triumph of his own before vacating the WBC belt – which subsequently fell into the hands of David Benavidez.

Now, after Bivol returned to action with a points win over Michael Eifertit seems as though a trilogy showdown with Beterbiev is finally on the horizon, but the Russian-Canadian puncher is not the only knockout artist hoping to hand Bivol a first stoppage defeat.

Speaking to TalkSPORT Boxingafter a first-minute knockout of Sean Hemphill, Dutch light-heavyweight Gradus Kraus admitted that he cannot wait to face the likes of Bivol and knock them out.

“I want to make rounds, but you see I am too good for these guys and I know that I am the best in the world, I will be a future world champion.

“I can’t wait to step up in the ring against [guys] like Bivol and then I will show the world that I also knock them out because my power is too much.”

Boxing News understands that Kraus, who now has 11 knockouts from 12 wins, will return to action in October, with former Bivol opponent Craig Richards amongst the names being considered as a potential opponent.

Meanwhile, the unified champion has been ordered to face WBO mandatory challenger Callum Smith, though he may instead vacate the belt to make the third fight with Beterbiev.

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Tim Bradley Predicts Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbilli: Hes Going to Piece Him Up

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Tim Bradley Predicts Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbilli: "He's Going to Piece Him Up"

Tim Bradley anticipates a “hell of a fight” unfolding between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli, but only sees one man emerging victorious on October 31.

The pair will collide in a super-middleweight contest in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Mbilli making a first defence of his WBC world title.

He was upgraded from ‘interim’ to full champion following the retirement of Terence Crawford, who became the undisputed 168lb king by dethroning Canelo with a unanimous decision victory in September.

That same night, Mbilli defended his then-interim belt with a 10-round draw against Lester Martinez, producing a performance that aptly reflected his high-volume style.

But while the Frenchman does, indeed, force a considerable pace in the ring, many doubt that this will be enough to trump the 36-year-old Canelo.

Despite coming to the end of his decorated career, the Mexican hardly disgraced himself against Crawford and, prior to that, had remained unbeaten since his 2022 defeat to Dmitry Bivol.

Not only that, but many feel Alvarez is a more technically savvy operator than Mbilli, who throws punches in bunches but typically comes forward in straight lines.

It is partly because of this that Hall of Famer Bradley, while speaking with FightHypehas predicted a dominant victory for Canelo.

“He going to piece Mbilli’s ass up. I like Mbilli – tough guy, comes to bring the pain. It’s going to be a hell of a fight. But Canelo going to catch and shoot on his ass all night long.

“Uppercuts, hooks … it’s going to be bad. [Canelo’s] going to look like he’s back [to his best].”

By “catch and shoot”, Bradley means he is expecting Canelo to punish Mbilli with his counterpunching prowess, even if the 31-year-old keeps springing back with relentless aggression.

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