“What I really like though about Lamont Roach is how calm he could be in a storm,” Dirrell said to Fighthype. “He’s a world champion for a reason because he has such a sound mind. But he has to learn learn how to execute more.
“He did job against Pitbull [Cruz], but look, that was one other draw. That boy got two draws in a row. That’s so rare. It’s scary. They’re legitimate because he doesn’t produce enough offense. He really needs to show up the warmth. He doesn’t fight with a way of urgency when he must. He’s calm to a fault.”
Dirrell believes Roach’s patient style has contributed to the close scorecards in his recent fights, arguing that he cannot afford to depart rounds as much as the judges against a volume puncher like Zepeda.
“You possibly can’t trust the judges,” Dirrell said. “If it’s possible, don’t leave it within the judge’s hands. Any close fight Lamont has, we see draws or a possible loss. I just feel like he’s too calm.
“Zepeda goes to come back and he’s going to punch, punch, and punch.”
Despite the criticism, Dirrell still sees plenty to love in Roach’s game. He described him as an elite counterpuncher who excels at fighting in close quarters, but suggested subtle adjustments along with his footwork could help him control the motion more effectively.
“Use more step-backs, pivots, execute. Don’t execute from the identical spot,” Dirrell said. “His specialty is literally coming off your shot. He’s really good at catching and shooting.”
Dirrell stopped wanting predicting a winner, saying he wants to look at more of Zepeda before making a final pick. Nonetheless, he believes Roach’s ring IQ could give him a vital advantage if he can consistently capitalize on Zepeda’s relentless but predictable pressure.
“Lamont goes to give you the chance to read that, and that’s the advantage he has in that fight,” Dirrell said.
