Raymond Muratalla took out another puncher Saturday night to continue his march toward a lightweight title shot.

Muratalla completely controlled the action, consistently landed right hands and eventually stopped previously unbeaten Diego Torres early in the eighth round of their 10-round, 135-pound bout at Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nevada. The skillful, strong Muratalla (19-0, 16 KOs) dropped Torres (18-1, 17 KOs) with a right uppercut-left hook combination a little less than a minute into the eighth round.

Torres got up by the time referee Celestino Ruiz counted to nine and wanted to continue. Ruiz stopped the bout with 1:45 remaining in the eighth round because Torres looked away from him as Ruiz asked Torres to answer his commands.

The 26-year-old Muratalla, of Fontana, California, has stopped Mexico’s Torres and hard-hitting Namibian contender Jeremia Nakathila (23-3, 19 KOs) in back-to-back bouts. Torres took a step up against Muratalla, as his eye-catching knockout ratio was established against opponents who entered the ring for their fights with a combined record of 230-207-31.

Torres’ toughness kept him on his feet for seven-plus rounds, but Muratalla finally floored him with 2:03 remaining in the eighth round. Torres got up by the time Ruiz counted to 10, but Ruiz wouldn’t allow him to continue.

A short right by Muratalla hurt Torres with just over 40 seconds remaining in the seventh round. Muratalla countered Torres with a left hook about 45 seconds to go in the seventh round.

Muratalla drilled Torres with a right that connected with 1:20 remaining in the sixth round. A right hand by Muratalla rocked Torres with about 1:45 to go in the sixth round.

An active, accurate Muratalla kept landing short right hands during a fifth round he completely controlled.

Muratalla’s left uppercut caught Torres in an exchange with about 50 seconds to go in the fourth round. A right by Muratalla got Torres’ attention 45 seconds into the fourth round.

Muratalla’s overhand right wobbled Torres with just over 50 seconds on the clock in the third round. Muratalla completely controlled the action during the third round, when Torres mounted little offense.

Back-to-back right hands by Muratalla made Torres retreat with under a minute to go in the second round. A straight right by Muratalla knocked Torres into the ropes with just under 1:40 on the clock in the second round.

Muratalla fought off his front foot throughout the first round. He landed a left hook that made Torres move backward with less than 20 seconds to go in the opening round.

Muratalla caught Torres with a left hook earlier in the first round that seemed to result in Torres catching the thumb of Muratalla’s glove in his eye.

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