Joe Lopez, Quilisto Madera fighting for more than a belt; Valley, bragging rights all on the line

Joe Lopez on the left; Quilisto Madera on the right

The fight was to take place back on September earlier this year.  A hamstring and knee injury, which occured during Joe "Smoke Show" Lopez (8-1-0; 5 KOs) last fight, forced Lopez to miss the much anticipated match up with Quilisto "Kilo the Kid" Madera. (4-0-0; 2 KOs)  Tonight in front of a sold out Save Mart Center in Fresno, Ca part of Top Rank Boxing Solo Boxeo ​series, airing on a two hour tape delay on UniMas, these two valley natives finally get to square off.   This fight is being labeled by many as a fight of the night candidate.    If the promotional video that aired during the press confrence was any indication of how intense this fight is goint to be, the 15,000 in attendance is in for a real treat.  To say that there is no love lost between the two is an understatement.  Madera has been waiting, watching, and being extremely vocal on what he intends to do to Lopez.  "I told him I'm going to knock him out when I fight him." Quilisto Madera  There is no doubt that Madera has been vocal, and he does not shy away from it, he also understands this is a business, and it is his job to sell the fight.  Madera wears his heart on his sleeves,  and he calls it the way it is.  Most of the general public think that there is bad blood, or there is this grudge match between the two, Madera has a different view.  "I think the animosity, the fight, the sell, this is me. You know I’m being myself.  I’m not just trying to sell a fight, I am selling the fight, dont get me wrong, but this is me. I’m coming out here to miss you up. No matter who it is, it could be Joe (Lopez), it could be anyone else, I’m taking you out and I’m going to tell you that."  Quilisto Madera
​On the opposite Side of the spectrum, Lopez has been really quiet, and something he acknowledge he never did before.  “I let him talk, he’s promoting the fight.  A lot of people are use to me talking, and promoting, like i said I know everyone is coming to see me, but like i said before dope sells itself.” Joe Lopez  Another thing that is new for Lopez is preparing for a fight after his first defeat.  Something Lopez is comfortable talking about.  “You know i learned a whole lot from it.  I almost look at that fight as a win not so much as a loss.”  Lopez continues, “I thought I was still going to walk over this dude, like I walked over everyone else with my talent. And I took that for granted, he taught me a lesson that day.  He came and he studied me, and he saw me drop my hands and he took the shot.” Joe Lopez now focused on tonights fight, 
Fully healed ready to show Top Rank Boxing what his worth is.  Problem is so is Madera.  Both these fighters are in the best shape of their respective careers, both had tough training camps, and both think they’re coming out victorious.  “I expect Joe Lopez to come and try to hurt me, you know I’ve said a lot of things to him, and I want that.  I’m going to be calm, collective, aggressive and use the ring.  Most importantly I’m going to come with excitement, give the fans what they want.” Quilisto Madera 
“I expect to put on a good performance and show Top Rank that I’m ready to get back on the horse.  I’m trying to impress them, and also my trainers to let them know everything is ok, and then move on to more money and bigger fights.”  Joe Lopez  Who ever comes out on top, expect an intense, in your face, action packed fight from start to finish.  The time for talk is over, and soon we’ll see who raises that championship belt.  This fight was a year in the making, and the count down is on.  


HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE 
Joe Lopez cherishes every time he fights at home, especially at the Save Mart Center, something Madera opponent hasn’t.  “Oh I love fighting in my hometown.  Everyone is going to be out there for me, I know it's going to affect my opponent and he’s (Quilisto Madera) never felt that, he's never been the opponent in Fresno, he’s always had people come from Stockton, but now he’s in my town I’m pretty sure people will come from Stockton, but it's going to be Fresno here, and he's going to feel that,  I feel like nerves are going to set in,  he’s going to feel what's it like to be the underdog, to be the away team, so I feel like he's going to feel it.” Joe Lopez  Could there be such a thing as hometown advantage for boxing?     

REMATCH?
​Quilisto Madera doesn’t think so.  “This is a one and done, and I’m moving on to the next person I got to take out. If he (Joe Lopez) wants a rematch after I beat him he’s going to have to do some things and they’re going to have to make some offers and we shall see.”  Quilisto Madera