The assemblage successful William Zepeda’s country unsheathed iPhones erstwhile the combat was over, acceptable to grounds the lightweight’s absorption upon announcement that helium was the winner. The Mexican, 30, boxed 11 years professionally hoping to triumph a satellite rubric — ensuring Saturday with pressure, poise and measurement helium wouldn’t permission Virgin Hotels Las Vegas without one.
Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Zepeda claimed the WBC’s vacant lightweight title with a 118-110, 118-110, 117-111 triumph implicit erstwhile 130-pound titlist Lamont Roach Jr. successful the hotel’s theater. His measured aggression, magnitude and angled footwork overwhelmed the shorter Washingtonian — whom chap DMV autochthonal and NBA large Kevin Durant was supporting from a ringside spot arsenic portion of spirited and snazzy assemblage — reducing him to azygous shots that didn’t rattle oregon unnerve Zepeda.
The cameras were rolling and the assemblage was roaring erstwhile Zepeda (34-1, 27 knockouts) was named the unanimous winner, rebounding from his nonaccomplishment past July to pound-for-pound stalwart Shakur Stevenson. Zepeda joins a value people of champions that features WBO beltholder Abdullah Mason (also an attendee Saturday night) and IBF beltholder Raymond Muratalla, who defended his rubric successful the co-main event. Lucas Badhi and Floyd Schofield are owed to combat for the vacant WBA title.
A rubric unification would beryllium sensible adjacent for “Camarón,” the babyface for the Saturday spectators, hoisted by his cornermen successful celebration.
“Shakur was an exam I couldn’t walk and you cognize what? It was humbling.” Zepeda told DAZN’s Chris Mannix done a translator. “But we took the time, we came backmost stronger, worked connected the weaknesses and came backmost and present we’re champion.”
Roach, besides 30, was a seasoned challenge, settling for draws successful his past 2 fights: astatine 135 pounds against erstwhile WBA champion Gervonta Davis and astatine 140 pounds against erstwhile WBA champion Isaac Cruz. His consciousness for region and counterpunching did everything for him but triumph those matchups, though Zepeda overwhelemed him with his southpaw jab, crafty question and lefts downstairs.
CompuBox counted 218 connections for Zepeda compared to 153 to Roach, who was besides outlanded 62-25 to the body, zapping his wind.
“Lamont thought I was going to beryllium that one-dimensional fighter,” Zepeda said. “We added a mates things to our repertoire, truthful I deliberation that decidedly made the difference.”
In the co-feature, Muratalla (25-0, 17 KOs) peppered 37-year-old Brazilian challenger Robson Conceicao (21-4-1, 10 KOs) with combinations to the caput and body, overwhelming him with youth. An exhaustive value chopped to the lightweight bounds wore connected Murtalla’s vigor precocious and Conceiao’s stubborn savvy and grit (as the erstwhile WBC inferior lightweight champion) stayed with him until the last bell.
Promoted by Top Rank, Muratalla, 29 of Fontana, California, announced a determination to 140 pounds, wherever Stevenson is reigning supreme. Stevenson wrangled the WBO rubric distant from Teofimo Lopez — who was successful attendance up of his Aug. 22 bout with WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero astatine T-Mobile Arena — and would marque a compelling matchup with Muratalla, who won his lightweight rubric successful January astatine Fontainebleau Las Vegas vs. Andy Cruz.
Gary Antuanne Russell has the WBA inferior welterweight rubric and Dalton Smith has the WBC crown. Lindolfo Delgado and Arthur Biyarslanov are owed to conflict for the IBF’s vacant 140-pound title. With layered offense, clever defence and seasoning present astatine the title level, Muratalla is simply a worthy foe for either champion oregon the soon-to-be champ aft helium vacates his title.
“Not my champion (performance) to beryllium honorable with you,” Muratalla told Mannix successful the ring. “It was occupation making weight. You cognize what I mean? … I deliberation I’ll consciousness a batch amended and a batch stronger astatine 140.”
On the undercard: Junior middleweight Charles Conwell (22-1, 17 KOs) ended a 16-month layoff with a ninth-round stoppage of Paul Kroll (12-1-2). Raul Curiel (18-0-1, 14 KOs) stayed unbeaten astatine welterweight with a 100-90, 97-93, 95-95 determination implicit Quinton Randall (17-4-1).
Contact Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected X.
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