Boxing: Amir Khan continued his march towards a world title with an impressive points victory over former IBF world super-featherweight champion Gairy St Clair at London's ExCel Arena.
The Olympic silver medallist established a huge lead in the early rounds and then showed his defensive capabilities and resilience to repel a late rally by the challenger.
The young Bolton fighter aims to emulate Prince Naseem Hamed by winning a world title this year at the age of 21 - and on this performance, he is bang on track to fulfil his dream.
Khan had to go the full 12 rounds to successfully defend his Commonwealth lightweight title for the third time - but that is no disgrace against St Clair, one of boxing's great survivors.
His veteran manager Johnny Lewis described him as having "the best chin in boxing today" - and the gutsy Guyana-born Australian citizen proved it once again as he maintained his record of never having been stopped or floored in 47 fights.
Only fighters of the quality of world champion Diego Corrales, Vivian Harris, Leonard Dorin, Malcolm Klassen and Cassius Voloyi had beaten St Clair - and all had to go the distance to do it, so Khan is in good company.
He used his superior speed and height advantage to make it a punishing 33rd birthday for St Clair as he out-boxed the 5ft 4in challenger to take the decision from all three judges.
The scores were 120-108 from all three judges, meaning they had jointly awarded Khan every round.
After marking his own 21st birthday by destroying former British champion Graham Earl after only 72 seconds of the first round in his last fight, Khan had demanded a more difficult examination.
He passed it with honours to record his 16th successive since joining the paid ranks, after bursting to prominence at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
It was the fourth time he had been taken the distance but the first occasion he had to go the 12-round championship limit - and he proved he could handle it with ease.
There was no repeat of the early blitz Khan unleashed against Earl.
Supported by his tennis pal Andy Murray at ringside, he began tentatively but was soon finding his way through the high guard of St Clair with his ramrod left jab.
Khan took a right to the side of the face at the start of round two, but the speed of his punching was proving a problem for the challenger.
St Clair, despite being caught with some solid punches, did not look about to roll over and stood his ground as they exchanged blows.
St Clair, who calls himself 'Superman', showed he could also be a potential danger man - catching the champion with two left hooks - but the greater volume of punches was coming from the younger fighter.
St Clair, crouching low and covering his head with his gloves, frustrated Khan for a spell.
But the title-holder re-established his authority and continued to pile up the points with his rapid-fire combination punching as he built up a considerable points lead.
Khan was cut - for the first time in his career - above the left eye by a clash of heads.
But it did not look serious - and St Clair, bleeding heavily from the nose by the end of round five, was showing signs of distress at the start of the sixth.
The challenger showed his fighting heart and his experience to ride out the storm.
By round seven, Khan was looking every inch the future star with his flashy, fast combination punches.
But his pace began to slow down the home straight.
Referee Ian John-Lewis issued a warning to Khan for a low blow in the ninth round - and St Clair, sensing he needed something special to turn the tide, suddenly found an extra gear.
But it was too little too late as Khan stayed firmly in control.
Afterwards Khan confirmed he intends to be a world champion in 2008.
"I've beaten a world-class opponent and I want to become world champion this year," he said.
"I've always wanted to do 12 rounds - and now I have. Every shot I hit him with, he kept coming back. He was so strong.
"A few times I caught with good shots and thought he might go. But he was coming and coming - and I had to pace myself.
"I'd done the training and knew I had the fitness in the tank to go the 12 rounds.
"My strength helped a lot. We've done lower-body strength and upper-body strength work - and it all paid off."
Delighted promoter Frank Warren said: "That was an excellent performance. To win every one of the 12 rounds was just outstanding.
"I don't think anyone can complain about that one - or about the opponent."