LAS VEGAS – The man regarded by some as the world’s best fighter may have denied William Zepeda a title. In a hard-charging, hard-punching clinic that never paused, Zepeda defeated former junior lightweight champion Lamont Roach Jnr by unanimous-decision scores of 118-110 and 117-111 (twice) to capture the vacant WBC lightweight title. Roach covered and sought to counterpunch as Zepeda relentlessly surged, slugging through Roach’s attempts to hold and imposing his will. And while Roach’s best punches had an effect on his past two foes, former champions Gervonta Davis and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, they did nothing to subdue the Zepeda storm. He alternated fists to pound the sides of Roach’s head in the 11th, flexing his fitness and legs to withstand Roach’s rally attempt.