Boxing: Amir Khan climbed off the canvas to claim the Commonwealth lightweight title with a thrilling stoppage victory over defending champion Willie Limond.
Limond failed to emerge for the ninth round after sustaining a broken jaw and his corner had no option but to pull him out of a brutal contest at the O2 Arena.
The injury was caused by a stream of quickfire combinations from Khan who overwhelmed his opponent in the seventh and eighth rounds.
But the 20-year-old from Bolton had to survive the first major scare of his professional career, which now reads 13 straight victories, when he was knocked down in the sixth and weathered a major pummelling.
The standard of Khan's previous 12 opponents had drawn criticism but there could be no doubting Limond's pedigree.
Only one defeat stained the Glaswegian's 29-fight record before tonight and that was against fellow Scot and world title contender Alex Arthur in 2003.
The 28-year-old, a durable opponent with a solid chin, presented a significant step up in class and gave Khan the test critics have been calling for.
Looking significantly bigger than his opponent, Khan started the fight on the back foot and connected with a series of lefts and rights - although none cleanly.
A grin greeted an accurate flurry from Limond with Khan eager to show he had not been hurt by the ever-aggressive Scot, but the Bolton favourite knew he was in a real fight.
He consistently landed with straight combinations in the fourth but staggered slightly after a right hand from Limond connected cleanly in a warning that he could not lose concentration against the cagey Scot.
Khan threw a series of rapid combinations in the sixth but the tables turned dramatically in a thrilling round that brought the O2 Arena to its feet.
Two right hands and a left hook sent Khan sprawling and Limond continued to batter his opponent as he fell towards the canvas, sensing a huge upset was possible.
The count was completed and he continued to pile on the pressure, chasing him around the ring as the Scot looked to finish the fight early.
But Khan, showing commendable resilience, held on and began unleashing some telling shots of his own as the round ebbed and flowed.
The seventh was far more one-sided, however, as Khan backed Limond against the ropes with more hurtful combinations and the champion went down himself.
It was Limond - a 25-1 underdog before the fight - who was in full retreat now with his bloody face evidence of Khan's handiwork.
By the eighth Limond was in trouble but the brave Scot refused to give in and had to be withdrawn by his corner, handing Khan the toughest victory of his career.