Middleweight Quilisto Madera defeated Hector Zepeda by unanimous decision Saturday night at the Memorial Civic Auditorium in his hometown of Stockton, California. 

All three judges scored the bout 78-74 for Madera, who improves to 14-3, 9 knockouts.

Zepeda was the aggressor and put Madera on the defensive early on in the fight, but Madera was eventually able to find a rhythm by throwing and landing consistent jabs, followed by straight and overhand right hands to the head.

My corner told me to keep working that jab,” said Madera. “They also told me to let go of my right hand and set up the left hooks. I have a really good corner. They kept me on track, and we came to win.

“This event means a lot. We’ve been through a lot of trials and tribulations. But we just don’t know how to quit. I’ve got a fire in me. We don’t give up. We just keep coming.”

Madera had not fought since August 14 of last year, stopping journeyman Roberto Vazquez Alvarez in the third round. In his previous fight, which occurred on April 20, Madera lost by split-decision to Jose Resendiz. 

The 30-year-old has fought several times in the San Joaquin (Central) Valley of California, where he has a following, including a handful of times in Fresno. 

Zepeda, who is originally from Tijuana, Mexico and now resides across the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, drops to 21-6, 7 KOs. The 25-year-old has now lost five of his last seven bouts.

In the co-main event, lightweight prospect Manuel Jaimes, who also resides in Stockton, defeated Tijuana’s Ricardo Torres Lopez by unanimous decision. Scores were 78-74, 78-74, and 79-73 for Jaimes, who improves to 13-1-1, 10 KOs.

In a clash of unbeaten featherweight prospects, Arturo Popoca of Riverside, California improved to 6-0-1, 4 KOs, defeating Bakersfield’s Alexis De Luna (10-1, 5 KOs) by majority decision. One judge scored the bout 57-57, while the other two judges scored the bout 60-54 and 58-56 for Popoca. 

Welterweight Ector Madera, another Stockton resident, defeated Alejandro Frias (13-9-2, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision. Scores were 58-54, 58-54, and 57-55 for Madera, who goes to 11-0, 6 KOs.

Lightweight Marcos Cardenas of Salem, Oregon improved to 9-7-1, 4 KOs, defeating Stockton’s Giovannie Gonzalez (15-6-1, 12 KOs) by unanimous decision. Scores were 58-56, 58-56, and 60-54 for Cardenas.

Irving Xilohua (4-0, 2 KOs) of Stockton, California scored a four-round unanimous decision victory over Jesus Arturo Guzman (8-9, 5 KOs) in a super bantamweight battle. Scores: 40-36 3x.

Undefeated super middleweight Kenneth Lopez (7-0, 3 KOs) of Ceres, California defeated Bryan Martinez (2-3, 1 KO) of Paso Robles, California via four-round unanimous decision. Scores: 39-36 3x.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing