William Zepeda Still Without Fight Six Months After Loss

Zepeda’s record remains 33 wins and one loss, with 27 knockouts. The Stevenson fight marked the first defeat of his career and ended his run as WBC interim lightweight champion. After the bout, Golden Boy said it was back to the drawing board. Since then, no clear next step has emerged.

The lightweight division has not made his situation easier. It is crowded at the top and cautious just below it. Zepeda no longer carries a belt, but he is still viewed as a difficult fight. That combination often leads to inactivity, especially for fighters trying to move carefully toward titles.

The Stevenson fight did little to damage his reputation as a pressure operator. Many fans still argue it was a demanding style fight for Stevenson, even in a clear decision loss. Zepeda forced movement. He kept the pace high. He made Stevenson stay disciplined for twelve rounds.

One moment from the third round continues to be debated. With under thirty seconds left, Zepeda landed a right hand while Stevenson was backed into the ropes. Stevenson lost his footing and stumbled as the ropes held him upright. The referee did not rule it a knockdown. Stevenson later said he was off balance rather than hurt. He reset quickly, avoided the follow up shots, and regained control of the round.

Officially, the sequence changed nothing. Unofficially, it remains part of how the fight is remembered and part of why Zepeda is still seen as a difficult opponent rather than a solved one.

Talk around potential matchups has filled the gap. One name that surfaces is Sam Noakes, often mentioned as a possible opponent on a large undercard tied to a future major event in 2026. Nothing has been announced, and no timetable has been confirmed.

The question around Zepeda now is position rather than ability. The Stevenson fight showed limits, but it also showed what he can still force at this level. He can keep rounds busy. He can make elite fighters stay focused. He does not fade easily.

The concern is inactivity. Pressure fighters rely on rhythm and timing. Long layoffs flatten those edges. At lightweight, once that pause sets in, it can linger unless someone decides to take the risk of facing him. That decision has not arrived yet.