WBC books a world title fight for Shakur Stevenson’s stripped belt

Shakur Stevenson he was stripped of his WBC lightweight world title last month and soon the 135lb division will crown a new champion.

Stevenson jumped up to 140lbs to challenge Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super-lightweight world title, but had not ruled out a return to lightweight in a bid to become the undisputed champion.

However, soon after Stevenson defeats Lopez to become boxing’s youngest four-division world champion, the WBC controversially ruled to declare the lightweight strap 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 sanction fee.

Sulaiman has now informed Iñaky Arzate that the WBC has decided to order a fight between the former WBC Interim title holder, William Zepeda, and the former WBA featherweight manager, Lamont Roach Jr.

“(Translated from Spanish) The WBC held a vote, there will be a spectacular fight between the Mexican, ‘Camaron’ Zepeda, who will fight 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.”

The news of the Book Council’s decision is sure to hinder the 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 promoted to full world champion.

The Cuban southpaw will become the mandatory challenger for the victorious Zepeda-Roach if it happens, with the undercard Gilberto Ramirez vs David Benavidez on Saturday May 2, one possible venue for the booked contest.