An honest article from frankwarren.tv Amir Khan captured his first major title with an eighth retirement win against Willie Limond --but had to climb off the floor to do so after being badly hurt. The Scotsman was billed as Khan's first big test, but no one expected him to come so close to derailing the Olympic silver medallist in such spectacular fashion. After five fairly straightforward rounds - all but one of them won by Khan - Limond closed in on a stunning upset in the sixth. He hurt Khan with a right hand, and clubbed him to the canvas with a series of follow up punches. Khan complained that he had been pushed, but was unsteady legs and was plainly badly hurt. With two minutes of the round left, Khan looked in deep trouble as Limond piled on the pressure. But while his chin may not be made of iron, there's no question Khan's heart is made of stern stuff, and he rallied in the round to first get himself back into the fight and then take things to Limond. The seventh was Khan's best round, as he turned the fight on its head by dropping Limond heavily into the ropes. Somehow the Scotsman soaked up three minutes of punishment, and came out for more in the eighth as Khan went for broke. It seemed the champion was on the verge of being stopped at any point, but where Khan had shown bravery in the sixth, now it was Limond's turn to go over and above the call of duty. Eventually it was halted by his corner, who decided that a dislocated jaw and suspected broken nose meant there was little chance their man could win the fight. Khan was well ahead on points, having bossed early proceedings, but all that was forgotten in the whirlwind middle rounds that followed. Beforehand Khan had described Limond as a great boxer, and he nearly attained immortal status by becoming nearly becoming the first man to beat Khan. Don't expect Amir to be in with a puncher any time soon, although realistically, only Graham Earl and Jon Thaxton stand between him and being seen as domestic number one. A fight against either of those two were being talked about for the autumn, but no firm plans have yet been made for his first defence, or even whether he will defend the Commonwealth belt in his next fight. Promoter Frank Warren has always insisted that Khan will be brought on slowly, and he may be given an easy ride next time out. Glaswegian Limond said before the fight that he fought only for glory - rather than pay days - and he came so close to covering himself with it. But champion fighters always find a way to win, and Khan showed that while he as much to learn, he has got plenty of bottle.
