Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

Welterweight contender Keith Thurman defeated Julio Diaz by a third round technical knockout when Diaz quit on his stool claiming he had a rib injury Saturday in Carson, Calif.

Thurman (23-0, 21 knockouts) dominated the first two rounds, landing quick, hard punches without taking much of anything in return. Diaz (40-10-1, 29 KOs) took a knee after taking a shot to the side of the head in the second round and was cut above his right eye by a punch in the third.

The third was the most competitive of the three rounds, as Diaz, fighting with spirit, had his best moments. However, after the round, Diaz told his corner that a body shot by Thurman injured his rib, which made it difficult for him to breathe.

With the victory, Thurman remains one of the hottest fighters in the world and in position for a title fight.

Diaz, a former two-time lightweight titleholder, has now lost consecutive fights to three elite opponents. He gave Amir Khan and Shawn Porter trouble in his previous two bouts.

A full report will follow shortly.