Updated SEP 11, 2014 1:56p ET  When it comes to legacy, Juan Manuel Lopez is slightly uncomfortable with where he stands.  Lopez was a decorated amateur boxer, who went to the 2004 Summer Olympics for Puerto Rico. He's a former two-division champion as a professional. But all anyone wants to talk about with "JuanMa" is how entertaining he is in the ring. One of his bouts hasn't gone to a decision since 2009 -- a pretty ridiculous feat considering the competition level he has faced.  In all, Lopez, 31, has only gone the distance three times in his nine-year pro career. Of his 34 wins, 31 have come by way of knockout. But Lopez is concerned that's all he'll be remembered for.  "When I retire, I want people to talk about how good I was, not just how exciting I was," Lopez told FOX Sports.  It's for that reason you might see a more conservative "JuanMa" against Jesus Cuellar on Thursday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas (FOX Sports 1, 9:30 p.m. ET) -- at least as conservative as Lopez can possibly get. He is coming off a loss to Fernando Vargas in July and admitted to contemplating retirement. When this co-main event fight came up, though, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.  "This is very, very important," Lopez (34-4) said. "Probably the most important of my career. I can't afford a loss. This fight here gets me into the bigger fights down the road."  Cuellar (24-1) will come in as the favorite. He's the reigning interim WBA featherweight champion and, at 27, four years younger. In the narrative, he's the young, hungry lion trying to make his name off the more well-known boxer. It's combat sports booking 101.  "I know that this is going to be a hard fight," said Cuellar, an Argentinean. "I've been training hard for it in an intense camp and I'm here to do my job and take the victory home."  Lopez has other plans. He knows with the way the sport works, he can notch just one or two wins and get right back into more marquee fights.  "Boxing is like that," Lopez said. "The landscape is always changing. It's constantly changing in boxing. I know a victory here is a step in the right direction. A huge fight."  "JuanMa," though, admitted to thinking about retirement after the loss to Vargas. He has been through an incredible amount of wars. But he said he's reinvigorated by the prospect of fighting Cuellar. Lopez's body feels good and he's excited about the possibility of getting back on track.  "JuanMa" might be known for his unabashedly crowd-pleasing style, but that's secondary Thursday night. His career -- his legacy -- comes first.  "Forget about looking good," he said. "I need to win."
Juan Manuel Lopez is known for his flash. But in Thursday's showdown with Jesus Cuellar, he's out to prove he's pretty darn good too.