LAS VEGAS – Mirco Cuello could’ve scored a more conclusive knockout Saturday had referee Chris Flores allowed it.

As it was, Cuello recorded a 10th-round technical knockout of Christian Olivo after dropping Olivo twice with body shots during the final round of their WBA featherweight elimination match on the David Benavidez-David Morrell Jr. undercard at T-Mobile Arena. Mexico’s Olivo, who dropped Cuello during the second round of a very competitive contest, wanted to continue and protested Flores’ decision to stop their fight at 2:01 of the 10th round.

Argentina’s Cuello, who is ranked No. 7 among The Ring’s top 10 featherweight contenders, kept his unblemished record intact (15-0, 12 KOs). Olivo (22-2-1, 9 KOs) lost for the second time in his past four fights.

It appeared as if these evenly matched 126-pound combatants would go the distance before Cuello knocked Olivo to the canvas twice in the final round.

Neither fighter gave ground during a spirited seventh round in which both boxers had their fair share of success. The eighth and ninth rounds were comparably competitive.

Cuello took a hard right hand from Olivo during the sixth round. Cuello’s pressure and accuracy also made Olivo get on his back foot at one point during that competitive sixth round.

An overhand right by Olivo knocked Cuello to one knee with about 1:25 to go in the second round. Cuello got up from that flash knockdown pretty quickly and didn’t appear hurt, as he traded with Olivo for the remainder of the second round.