Joaquin Zamora has been filled with optimism before.

That the 31-year-old boxer still harbors hopes of a career breakthrough is a testament to his patience and persistence.

Just eight days after the junior middleweight won his 12th straight fight — a 10-round technical knockout of Joshua Renteria of Tucson, Ariz. — Zamora believes that his opportunity is right around the corner.

Again.

He felt just as strong in 2006, when he knocked out Brazilian Cleiton Conceicao in Las Vegas, Nev.

And in 2008, when he did the same to Albuquerque's Ray Sanchez III.

Each time, Zamora (18-2-1, 12 KOs) has played the waiting game, so he's learned not to get overly excited. But it doesn't mean a man can't dream.

"You've got to be positive in your words and your thoughts," Zamora says. "They kinda point you toward where your life will go. I don't know about this last fight. It was just a small fight in Sky City (Casino), but I feel like things are going to be happening to me now."

He will meet with his promoter, Juan Romero, this week, which will give him an idea of what his path will be. Both he and his trainer, Al Lovato, hope that it means a quick return to the ring — perhaps by August.

"I get the sense that I'm finally going to get one of these breakthrough fights," Zamora says. "And it might not be one fight in particular. It could be a series of fights that gets me where I want to be."

It would be a welcome change from the start-and-stop pattern his boxing schedule has taken. After beating Conceicao, he fought twice more before a six-month layoff took him into 2007. He fought three times in the first seven months, then was absent from the fight scene for more than a year before resurfacing against Sanchez III.

His defeat of Renteria came after a seven-month drought.

"We haven't been consistent as far as having fought regularly," Lovato says. "We've gone 13 months without a fight, and then seventh months before that, and seven months before that. I am glad he did go 10 rounds (against Renteria) because that did him a world of good."

Lovato hopes others in the boxing world took notice of Zamora's boxing skills, which were on display against Renteria. He relied heavily on his jab and slowly wore Renteria down. It was a deviation from Zamora's brawling style.

"Before, he was pretty much right in front of his opponent and just there to bang," Lovato says. "For this fight, he was a boxer. He was sticking and moving. You saw the natural skills that he has."

Zamora credited Lovato for his persistence in trying to teach his boxer to try a different approach.

"Al finally beat it into my skull to do the things in a real fight that you do in the gym," Zamora says. "Then you just go out there, have fun and just enjoy the skills that God has blessed me with."

Fun had been an element absent in Zamora's preparation, and he took a month-long sabbatical in December to regain his focus.

Zamora says he never considered retiring from the sport, even though it seems that his age might hinder his career advancement.

But fighter and trainer believe that the boxing world is not a game for the young any more. They cite "Sugar" Shane Mosley (37), Ronald "Winky" Wright (37) and Bernard Hopkins (44) as examples of older fighters attaining — and maintaining — success at a national level.

They also provide inspiration.

"He's a young 31," Lovato says of Zamora. "And Joaquin lives a good lifestyle. No drinks. No smoking. No drugs. None of that stuff. The man works for (the City of Santa Fe) Parks and Recreation, and then he comes to the gym and trains and then he goes home."

Zamora believes that as long as the results don't change, there's no need to deviate from his path.

"People keep asking me how much longer do I want to do this," Zamora says. "If I am still whipping these guys, and I have all my motor skills, why quit?"