Boxing divisional rankings: Zepeda wins lightweight title, moves up at 135

          William Zepeda, left, defeated Lamont Roach by unanimous decision to win the vacant WBC lightweight title. Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images
          • ESPN
          Aug 6, 2026, 09:29 AM ET

          William Zepeda bounced back from the first loss of his career with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Lamont Roach to win the vacant WBC lightweight world title at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Saturday.

          Zepeda (34-1, 27 KOs), who was coming off a decision loss to Shakur Stevenson in July 2025, showed no signs of ring rust in his return. He controlled the action from the start, earning scorecards of 117-111, 117-111, and 118-110. According to CompuBox, Zepeda outlanded Roach in body shots (62-25), jabs (76-29), and power punches (142-124).

          With the win, Zepeda moves two spots to No. 3 in the lightweight division, one of boxing's deepest weight classes.

          In the co-main event, Raymond Muratalla successfully defended his IBF lightweight title with a unanimous decision over former junior lightweight champ Robson Conceicao. Muratalla cruised to scores of 119-109, 119-109, and 118-110, solidifying his No. 2 spot in the 135-pound division.

          ESPN's divisional boxing rankings highlight the best in the sport in every weight class. Rankings will change based on recent results and performances. Fighters who have announced they are moving to a different weight class will be ranked in that new division, if warranted, only once they fight in that weight class. Fighters who currently own titles in two divisions can be ranked in both.

          Fighters who haven't competed in the past 12 months -- and don't have a fight scheduled -- will be dropped from the rankings until they fight again. Any fighter who tests positive for a performance-enhancing substance will also be removed. That boxer will be eligible to reenter the rankings after his next bout.

          For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here. For ESPN women's divisional rankings, click here.

          Jump to this week's changes: Heavyweight | Cruiserweight | Light heavyweight | Middleweight | Junior middleweight | Welterweight | Junior welterweight | Lightweight | Junior lightweight | Junior featherweight | Bantamweight | Flyweight | Junior flyweight

          HEAVYWEIGHT (UNLIMITED)

          CRUISERWEIGHT (UP TO 200 POUNDS)

          LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (UP TO 175 POUNDS)

          SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 168 POUNDS)

          MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 160 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT (UP TO 154 POUNDS)

          WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 147 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT (UP TO 140 POUNDS)

          LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 135 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT (UP TO 130 POUNDS)

          FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 126 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT (UP TO 122 POUNDS)

          BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 118 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT (UP TO 115 POUNDS)

          FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 112 POUNDS)

          JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT (UP TO 108 POUNDS)

          STRAWWEIGHT (UP TO 105 POUNDS)