Khan climbs off floor to win

Limond failed to emerge for the ninth round after being pulled out by his corner after sustaining a suspected fractured jaw in 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 eight rounds. But the 20-year-old from Bolton had to overcome the first major scare of his professional career, which now reads 13 straights victories, when he was knocked down in the sixth and had to survive a major pummelling.

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. Limond was picked off with a series of jabs in the second by Khan, who followed one double left with a crunching right that rocked his opponent's head backwards.

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 Khan 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.

The count was completed and the Scot continued to pile on the pressure, chasing Khan around the ring as he looked to finish the fight early. But Khan, showing commendable resilience in the trenches, 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 By the eighth, Limond was on trouble but the brave Scot refused to give in and had to be withdrawn by his corner, handing Khan the toughest victory of his career.