Amir Khan climbed off the canvas to keep his unbeaten record intact and win the Commonwealth lightweight title at the end of eight rounds at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday. The undefeated Englishman overcame his biggest scare yet of his 13-fight professional career when Scotsman Willie Limond sent him to the canvas in the sixth round.
Khan, 20, was caught by heavy blows to the head and after getting to his feet after the count he stumbled around the ring for the rest of the round in a concussed daze. But Khan's head cleared and he returned fire to drop the Scotsman in the following round and after more punishment in the eighth, Limond was stopped on the advice of the doctor before the start of the ninth round because of a broken jaw.
"At least I have shown that I can take shots and come back even when I am hurt," said Khan. "I made a mistake and got caught with a right hand. It could have changed the fight but it didn't. I showed I have got a good chin.
"Good fighters go down, get back up and knock the other guy down and I did that. I was a bit anxious out there. I wanted to commit myself too much.
"It was very hard. Willie is a great fighter, strong going forwards and skilful. But it is my first major title and I loved it in there." Glaswegian Limond, 28, climbed into the ring with only one defeat in an eight-year professional career and that was to fellow Scot Alex Arthur who challenges for the WBO super-featherweight interim title next Saturday.
Limond, who has operated at super-featherweight for most of his career, landed two solid rights in the fourth to test the Bolton boxer's chin like never before in the pro ranks.
Khan looked comfortable on his toes but a counter right followed by a left caught him and right that sent him down. When his head finally cleared Khan went back on the attack, with a right rocking Limond before a flurry of hooks to the head from either hand sent the Scot slipping to the canvas via the ropes. Limond suffered more punishment in the eighth and with blood streaming from his mouth, the bout was called off before the ninth round.