Terence Crawford Sees Trouble For Lamont Roach Against Zepeda

Terence Crawford believes Lamont Roach Jr. has the skill to give William Zepeda problems Saturday night. The four-division champion also sees one area that has to change if Roach wants to leave Las Vegas with the vacant WBC lightweight title.

Crawford offered a simple view of the matchup.

“It’s going to be a good fight. If Roach don’t pick up his punch count, it’s going to be a bad one,” said Terence to Fighthype.

Crawford focused on the tactical challenge facing Roach. Zepeda has overwhelmed contender after contender through relentless pressure and one of the busiest work rates in boxing. Few opponents have matched his output over 12 rounds, making activity almost as important as accuracy against the Mexican southpaw.

Roach has built his success on timing, defense and clean counterpunching rather than sustained volume. That style earned him a draw against Gervonta Davis before another draw with Isaac Cruz, but it also leaves little margin for error against a fighter who rarely stops throwing.

Roach projected complete confidence after weighing in at 134.6 pounds, insisting this opportunity would produce a different result than his previous title attempts.

“It’s a lot different. Given this opportunity and this time to seize it, I’m leaving in no question and nothing, no doubt, no anything about this fight, trust me, it’s coming home with me,” said Roach about the vacant WBC lightweight title.

The former WBA junior lightweight champion Roach also declared himself “the best fighter in the world” and promised to win “any way I want.”

If Crawford has the fight figured correctly, Roach will need to throw far more punches than he typically does. Otherwise, Zepeda’s pressure and volume may be enough to carry him to the WBC title.