William Zepeda vs Jadier Herrera targeted for March, Camaron wants Shakur Stevenson rematch next

WBC lightweight champion William Zepeda says he will defend against unbeaten interim champ Jadier Herrera first, then chase a Shakur Stevenson rematch. The venue is still undecided.

William "Camaron" Zepeda says his next job is a mandatory WBC lightweight title defence against unbeaten Cuban interim champion Jadier Herrera, and only after that does he want a rematch with Shakur Stevenson. The Mexican champion spoke at the 64th WBC Convention in Acapulco, in comments the World Boxing Council published on November 9, 2026, and told Sports Illustrated Mexico he hopes to fight in March 2027.

Herrera first, then Stevenson

According to the WBC's account of the convention, Zepeda (34-1, 27 KOs) will defend his green and gold belt against Herrera on March 29. Zepeda praised the challenger's style.

"He's not a typical Cuban fighter. He doesn't just move around, he comes forward and attacks. So it's going to be a great fight for sure. Also what a cool nickname he has!" Zepeda said.

His only professional loss came against Stevenson, and he made it clear that the defeat still bothers him.

"It's a chip on my shoulder, but first things first. The title defense and then that. Which is definitely on my mind," Zepeda told the WBC.

The WBC wrote that Zepeda believes he hurt Stevenson in their first fight. He says that in a rematch he would need to crowd the American against the ropes even more, with extra patience and craft.

Where and when: still not settled

No promoter has officially announced the fight, and the venue is still open. The WBC account says Cancun, Toluca and Mexico City's Estadio Azteca were all floated, but Herrera's side turned down a Mexican location. It adds that Zepeda is happy to fight in New York or Las Vegas instead.

Zepeda gave Sports Illustrated Mexico a different picture. He put the chances of fighting at Estadio Nemesio Diez, home of his boyhood club Toluca, at "90 percent". He said the main obstacle is protecting the stadium's pitch. SI Mexico stressed that no date or card has been confirmed and that Toluca has not commented. Zepeda's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy, said in October that he wanted Zepeda to fight in Mexico in the first quarter of 2027.

How we got here

The WBC ordered Zepeda vs Herrera after Zepeda won the vacant title, with a purse bid scheduled for October 20 if the sides could not agree, The Ring reported.
Zepeda won the belt by beating Lamont Roach Jr. by unanimous decision on August 1, 2026 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The scores were 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111.
Herrera (18-0, 16 KOs), a 24-year-old southpaw from Camaguey promoted by Frank Warren, won the interim title by stopping Ricardo Nunez in the eighth round on January 10 in Oberhausen, Germany. Warren has predicted that Herrera will take the full title.
Stevenson beat Zepeda by unanimous decision on July 12, 2025 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York. He later moved up to 140 pounds, won The Ring and WBO junior welterweight titles from Teofimo Lopez, and was stripped of the WBC lightweight belt in a dispute over sanctioning fees.

What's next

A Stevenson rematch looks a long way off. Stevenson now campaigns at junior welterweight, and Zepeda first has to get past a hard-hitting, unbeaten mandatory challenger. Expect an official date and venue for Zepeda vs Herrera once Golden Boy and Warren's side finalise the deal.