Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley defeated Brandon Rios by TKO in the ninth round to retain his WBA title.

Bradley was a class above in Las Vegas, flooring Rios twice in the ninth as referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight at the 2:49-mark on Saturday.

Much of the build-up to the fight centred on the possibility of a third lucrative bout against Manny Pacquiao, and Bradley further staked his claim to step into the ring with the Filipino fighter.

Bradley initially downed Mexican Rios with a combination of jabs to the body during the ninth round at the Thomas and Mack Center.

The 32-year-old Bradley then went on the attack again, using a succession of uppercuts to floor Rios before the matchup was brought to a halt.

The win saw Bradley improve his career record to 33-1-1 courtesy of his 13th knockout, while Rios fell to 33-2-1.