Currently, the lightweight division is going through a seismic shift.
With many of its superstars ascending to the division above, the lightweight division has been left in somewhat of a crisis, with the WBO lacking a champion and the IBF scrambling the extremely lucky George Kambosos Jr. and the ageing Vasyl Lomachenko to claim their vacancy.
The current champions in the division are currently lacking the will to make the big fights. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis seems preoccupied with fighting opposition he knows he can beat – not to discredit Frank Martin, but ‘Tank’ can hardly be classed as a pound-for-pound talent without challenging himself more frequently. The other, Shakur Stevenson, has dissipated in and out of fake retirements for the past year, all the while fighting lower tier opposition.
In such a stagnant division, however, there is a recurring name that appears at the top of all the organisation’s rating lists. William ‘Camaron’ Zepeda is a deadly threat in the lightweight division; fast, nimble, graceful and destructively powerful. The 27 year old Mexican is poised to take over the division – if anyone is willing to grant him the big fights.
Currently 30-0, Zepeda could be the next star from Golden Boy Promotions and is coming off an emphatically strong win over title-contender Maxi Hughes. In his next five fights, his resume could be bursting with impressive names and – potentially – titles at the highest level of the sport.
Born in San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, in 1996, Zepeda comes from a strong boxing heritage and has inherited a style that is bombastic and all-action, whilst maintaining strong fundamentals and defence. The undefeated southpaw would turn to the professional ranks in 2015, after a fairly low-key stint in the amateur world.
His first fight would be a third round knockout of Alonso Salvatierra, a fighter also making his debut. Unlike many Mexican fighters, he would look to raise the level of his competition quite early, claiming national titles entering his 10th bout.
Proving to be a stoppage expert, his first bout outside of Mexico would be a fifth round knockout of Roberto Ramirez – now 26-3-1 – on the undercard of O’Shaquie Foster’s destruction of Miguel Roman. The following bout would be the most important of his career; an assertive six round retirement of Hector Tanajara – then 19-0 – that won him the WBA Continental Americas lightweight title in style.
Following two easy defences of his title – and one stay-busy fight in his home nation, Zepeda would be set up as the b-side to Golden Boy Promotions star Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz, then 32-2-1, who was coming off a loss to Devin Haney. Zepeda would earn the unanimous decision in a bout that was completely in his favour, furthering the losing streak that ‘JoJo’ Diaz would go on to have.
Now a promotional darling, Zepeda would headline two cards against Jamie Arboleda, then 19-2, and Mercito Gesta, then 34-3-3, that would sharpen his experience as he sought to challenge at the top level.
Enter Maxi Hughes. The British fighter had held the IBO lightweight strap from 2021 to 2023, when he lost it to George Kambosos Jr. in a contentious loss – one the general public believed was undeserved.
Looking to re-establish himself at the top after the tepid loss, Hughes would take on the rising, young star in an effort to build back strongly. Instead, Zepeda would take the a-side spot in the bout and would etch another loss into the 26-6-2 record of Hughes in a spectacular display of workmanship; with flurries of power punches that afforded Hughes little time to mount a counter-offensive.
Within four rounds, Zepeda had made quick and easy work of the former world champ.
And so, that leads us to now. Zepeda, with his superior work-rate and skill, will be knocking on the door of the elite, with a thirst for titles instilled in his bones.