TEMECULA, California – Raymond Muratalla demonstrated Friday night that he is ready for a step up in competition.

The 25-year-old lightweight prospect dropped determined Mexican veteran Jair Valtierra in the fourth round and convincingly won their eight-round bout at Pechanga Resort Casino. Judges Alejandro Rochin, Fernando Villarreal and Zachary Young all scored their fight a shutout for Muratalla, who won 80-71 on each of their cards.

Muratalla, of Fontana, California, improved to 15-0 (12 KOs).

Valtierra (16-2, 8 KOs) has lost two of his past three fights, but he ended Muratalla’s nine-fight knockout streak. Two bouts before Muratalla beat him, Alberto Ibarra (11-4, 8 KOs) knocked out Valtierra in the fifth round last August 21 in Mexico City.

“I feel like I did OK, man,” Muratalla told ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna in the ring. “I was a little bit sloppy. I could’ve done better, but better days are to come.”

ESPN aired Muratalla-Valtierra as its co-feature before unbeaten junior welterweights Arnold Barboza Jr. (26-0, 10 KOs) and Danielito Zorrilla (16-0, 12 KOs) fought in the 10-round main event.

Muratalla tried for another knockout during the eighth and final round. He blasted Valtierra with a left hook 1:15 into that round and landed various power punches in the final minute of their bout, but the resilient Valtierra made it to the final bell.

Muratalla and Valtierra traded left hooks about 1:10 into the seventh round. Muratalla also landed a right and then a left to Valtierra’s body during the final minute of the seventh round.

Two rounds after Muratalla dropped him, Valtierra was somewhat competitive during the sixth round. Muratalla stung Valtierra with his jab in that round, though, and landed the harder punches overall.

After knocking Valtierra to the canvas in the fourth round, Muratalla landed various power punches to his head and body throughout the fifth round. Valtierra remained on his feet for those three minutes, but Muratalla battered him during that round.

Barely 20 seconds into the fourth round, Muratalla blasted Valtierra with a right hand that drew a reaction from the crowd. Muratalla wobbled Valtierra with a left hook that eventually sent him to the canvas with approximately 1:05 to go in the fourth round.

Valteirra beat the count and fought out of the trouble well enough to make it to the fifth round.

Muratalla countered Valtierra with a left hook immediately after taking a right hand with just over 30 seconds remaining in the third round. He then switched to a southpaw stance and backed Valtierra into the ropes with a left hand.

Muratalla connected with a left hook to Valtierra’s head about 35 second into the second round. About 25 seconds later, Muratalla landed a flush left hook up top.

With just over 10 seconds to go in the second round, Muratalla drilled Valtierra with a right hand that temporarily stopped him in his tracks.

Muratalla landed a left to Valtierra’s body with just under 20 seconds to go in the first round. Muratalla’s jab worked well for him earlier in the opening round.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.