Sulaiman Explains Lightweight Situation…Again

By Boxing Bob Newman

In light of recent reports that WBC #1-rated William Zepeda and #2-rated Lamont Roach Jr. will square off for the vacant WBC lightweight title, Fightnews.com® reached out to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman for clarification.

In a previous conversation, just prior to the Shakur Stevenson–Teofimo Lopez fight on January 31, Sulaiman told Fightnews.com® that if Stevenson remained at super lightweight, interim champion Jaider Herrera would fight O’Shaquie Foster for the vacant WBC lightweight title. Foster, you may recall, had previously won the interim lightweight title but relinquished it shortly thereafter, just before Herrera captured that same interim title on the Agit Kabayel–Damian Knyba undercard in Germany.

Shakur decided to remain at 140 pounds. Foster has likewise opted to stay at 130 pounds and either defend his crown or pursue a unification bout, possibly with WBO/IBF unified champion Emanuel Navarrete or the winner of the Jazza Dickens–Anthony Cacace WBA title fight scheduled for March 14.

Based on his two consecutive draw performances — one against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis and the other against WBC interim super lightweight champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz — Lamont Roach Jr. has been installed at #2 in the WBC’s lightweight ratings. Zepeda, meanwhile, has held the #1 position for 16 months, even after his loss to Stevenson, due to his interim title victory and his competitive showing in that bout.

Herrera will be designated as the mandatory challenger for the winner of Zepeda–Roach Jr., provided he remains the interim champion. The WBC is expected to issue a press release on this and other matters soon.

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