Asked if he believes he has been overlooked despite his performances, Roach said:

“I thought so for sure,” Roach said to Brian Custer when asked if he believes he has not received his due.

“Imagine if I would have won on the scorecards against Tank. Life-changing opportunities. That puts me as a champion, two-division world champion, two-time world champion. That gives me the leverage. I just beat the number one fighter at the weight class that I’m in, new weight class at that.”

Roach argued that official victories would have opened the door to many of the biggest fights in boxing. Instead, he feels two draws stalled the momentum he had worked years to build.

“That started bigger paydays, star-studded fights that people want to see. Imagine if I won on the scorecards with Pitbull. I’m the interim WBC champion at 140. That lines me up for Dalton Smith, Gary Antuanne Russell and Richardson Hitchins, who expressed that he wanted to fight,” said Roach.

“I’m not tiptoeing around. I’m going straight at the dudes that have the spotlight. I’m trying to show that I’m the best.”

Roach has repeatedly maintained that he deserved the decision in both contests that ended in draws, and believes those outcomes have affected how he is viewed within the sport despite competing at championship level.

He also acknowledged that the frustration extends beyond legacy and rankings.

“I’m also trying to feed my son too. But I’m trying to show that I’m the best,” said Roach.

The opportunity to change that narrative arrives against Zepeda. A victory would deliver the WBC lightweight title, make Roach a two-division world champion, and place him in position for the high-profile fights he believes have slipped away over the past two years.