Shakur Stevenson was stripped of his WBC lightweight world title last month and soon the 135lb division is will crown a new champion.
Stevenson jumped up to 140lbs in order to challenge Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super-lightweight world title, but had not ruled out a return to lightweight in an attempt to become the undisputed champion.
However, shortly after Stevenson defeated Lopez to become boxing’s third-youngest four-division world champion, the WBC ruled, controversially, to announce the lightweight strap as vacant. President Mauricio Sulaiman said Stevenson had not followed the correct process to fight for another belt in a new division and had also not paid a sanctioning fee.
Sulaiman has now informed Iñaky Arzate that the WBC have decided to order a fight between former WBC Interim titleholder William Zepeda and former WBA super-featherweight ruler Lamont Roach Jr.
“[Translated from Spanish] The WBC held a vote, there will a spectacular fight between the Mexican, ‘Camaron’ Zepeda, who will be fighting against Roach, who had two draws in his last two, one against ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. It will be a title fight for the vacant WBC lightweight world title.”
News of the WBC’s decision is sure to frustrate current WBC Interim champion Jadier Herrera, who was expected by many to be first in line for a shot at the vacant belt, if not elevated to full world champion.
The Cuban southpaw will become the mandatory challenger for the victor of Zepeda-Roach if it takes place, with the Gilberto Ramirez vs. David Benavidez undercard on Saturday May 2, being one possible location for the ordered contest.
