That hasn’t stopped him from looking at what could be next if he becomes a two-division champion on August 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

Roach talked about a potential clash against WBO and Ring 140-pound champion Shakur Stevenson on the latest episode of "Inside The Ring," which aired Monday on DAZN. While Roach isn’t looking past Zepeda, he and Stevenson believe a fight against each other is bound to happen in the future.

“I ran into him in Houston before the Ray Ford and O’Shaquie [Foster] fight,” Roach said. “We chopped it up, and we was just like we got to give the fans what they want, and he was like, ‘In due time it's gonna happen as long as we both stay on our A game.’ That's going to be the fight that everybody's going to want to see.”

Roach (25-1-3, 10 KOs) versus Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) will be broadcast in the United States on TNT and truTV and will also be available worldwide on DAZN. IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla defends his title against Robson Conceicao in the co-main event.

Roach, of Washington, D.C., is coming off back-to-back majority draws. The first came in controversial fashion against Gervonta “Tank” Davis for his WBA lightweight title in March 2025. Had referee Steve Willis ruled Davis taking a knee as a knockdown in the ninth round, Roach would have won by decision.

Roach, 30, saw his last fight end in similar disappointment against Isaac Cruz on December 6. With how his last two fights ended, Roach said he’s taking his game to another level in training camp so he can punish Zepeda.

“We have a great game plan,” Roach said. “Just executing it throughout the round, staying consistent, keeping myself together on all cues at each point of every round, so that I can dominate them and eventually break them down and leave no doubt.”

Zepeda, 30, hasn’t fought since losing by unanimous decision to Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs), The Ring’s No. 1-ranked lightweight and No. 3-ranked fighter pound-for-pound, for the WBC lightweight title in July 2025. The relentless southpaw from San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, is The Ring’s No. 3-ranked lightweight.

Getting past Zepeda would set the table for multiple big fights for Roach. He also stated he’s interested in a fight against Muratalla (24-0, 17 KOs), The Ring’s No. 2-ranked lightweight, if he can get past Conceicao (21-3-1, 10 KOs).

Ultimately, Roach believes a fight against Stevenson, a four-division champion from Newark, New Jersey, is one of the best fights that can be made, regardless of whether it takes place at lightweight or junior welterweight.

“I still think it's the best matchup at 135 for sure, especially coming off of the Tank fight,” Roach said. “I think that me and him could have settled it for supremacy at 135, but whatever weight it takes place at, it's going to be the best fight.”