WBC orders Zepeda and Herrera to negotiate title fight by October 20
2 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Oct 2, 2026, 4:34 AM
Last updated Oct 2, 2026
The WBC has mandated a lightweight title consolidation between champion William Zepeda and interim champion Jadier Herrera, with a deadline of October 20 for them to reach an agreement. Zepeda recently claimed the title by defeating Lamont Roach Jr., while Herrera, who is undefeated, earned his interim status with a victory over Ricardo Nunez. This matchup comes after Shakur Stevenson moved up in weight class, causing a shuffle in the division following Stevenson's stripping over unpaid fees. The anticipation builds as both fighters, represented by Frank Warren, seek to secure this title bout and define their paths forward.
- •Zepeda holds the WBC World Lightweight Title, while Herrera is the interim champion.
- •Both fighters have until October 20 to finalize the terms of the fight.
- •Zepeda defeated Lamont Roach Jr. to win the title in August.
- •Herrera maintained an undefeated record after beating Ricardo Nunez.
- •Stevenson's weight class move has influenced this title situation.
- 4:34 AMBad Left Hook — WBC orders William Zepeda vs Jadier Herrera
- 4:34 AMYahoo Sports — WBC orders William Zepeda vs Jadier Herrera
"LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 01: William Zepeda celebrates his WBC World Lightweight Title victory against Lamont Roach Jr. at Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on August 01, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images) | Getty Images Frank Warren confirmed earlier reporting that the WBC has ordered a lightweight title consolidation between reigning champion William Zepeda and interim champion Jadier Herrera, giving the pair until October 20th to come to terms. With Shakur Stevenson rising in weight to challenge Teofimo Lopez for super lightweight gold, Herrera (18-0, 16 KO) got the green light to battle Ricardo Nunez for interim gold and made the most of it by hammering the aging veteran into submission. The WBC wound up stripping Stevenson over (justifiably) unpaid sanctioning fees, but rather than take either of the obvious routes by upgrading Herrera or tossing him into a vacant title fight, they instead allowed “Camaron” Zepeda (34-1, 27 KO) to punch his way past Lamont Roach Jr with the real hardware on the line this past August. Zepeda is a tall order for anyone in the post-Stevenson lightweight division, let alone a 24-year-old whose best victory came against a designated victim on the heels of a DQ loss to Jon Fernandez. That said, he wants it and Warren wants it, so who are we to say no? Unless Zepeda can rustle up a unification with Abdullah Mason or elects to follow the latest hot trend and ditch the title, all signs point to Herrera getting his shot.
"The WBC is taking the rare step of reducing its titles by pitting William Zepeda against interim champ Jadier Herrera
Sources
External links- Bad Left HookOct 2, 2026, 4:34 AMWBC orders William Zepeda vs Jadier Herrera
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 01: William Zepeda celebrates his WBC World Lightweight Title victory against Lamont Roach Jr. at Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on August 01, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images) | Getty Images Frank Warren confirmed earlier reporting that the WBC has ordered a lightweight title consolidation between reigning champion William Zepeda and interim champion Jadier Herrera, giving the pair until October 20th to come to terms. With Shakur Stevenson rising in weight to challenge Teofimo Lopez for super lightweight gold, Herrera (18-0, 16 KO) got the green light to battle Ricardo Nunez for interim gold and made the most of it by hammering the aging veteran into submission. The WBC wound up stripping Stevenson over (justifiably) unpaid sanctioning fees, but rather than take either of the obvious routes by upgrading Herrera or tossing him into a vacant title fight, they instead allowed “Camaron” Zepeda (34-1, 27 KO) to punch his way past Lamont Roach Jr with the real hardware on the line this past August. Zepeda is a tall order for anyone in the post-Stevenson lightweight division, let alone a 24-year-old whose best victory came against a designated victim on the heels of a DQ loss to Jon Fernandez. That said, he wants it and Warren wants it, so who are we to say no? Unless Zepeda can rustle up a unification with Abdullah Mason or elects to follow the latest hot trend and ditch the title, all signs point to Herrera getting his shot.
- Yahoo SportsOct 2, 2026, 4:34 AMWBC orders William Zepeda vs Jadier Herrera
The WBC is taking the rare step of reducing its titles by pitting William Zepeda against interim champ Jadier Herrera
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