Amir Khan had to climb off the canvas and survive the odd wobble to claim a wide-margin points win over Samuel Vargas as he continued his comeback in Birmingham.
The Bolton welterweight, in his second fight since returning to the ring after a two-year absence, was knocked to the floor in the final seconds of the second round.
Khan is never involved in a boring fight, and had Colombian-born Vargas, 29, on the floor earlier as he threatened anoter quick victory before the visitors stunned Khan and the capacity crowd.
But, with potential next opponent Kell Brook watching at ringside, Khan recovered on his stool, came out and floored Vargas again.
The 31-year-old was unable to finish the job there and then, though, and eventually had to settle for a unanimous points victory from what was at times a gruelling battle.
But it was not a performance which will give the likes Brook or Manny Pacquiao too many sleepless nights.
Afterwards Khan told Sky Sports: "What I really wanted to do was go the distance. I wanted to get the experience.
"There were times in the fight when I wanted to put him away, there were times when I could have pushed it and knocked him out.
On the punch that knocked him down, Khan added: "He caught me with an overhand right hand, right on the button, I got back up and I was fine.
"This is boxing and I've got to learn from those mistakes."
Asked if he could have beaten Brook on the night, Khan said: "One hundred per cent. I wanted to get my feet wet tonight and I did that. Bring on who you want.
"I will take some time off, speak with Eddie Hearn and go from there. I want to fight again before the end of the year. I needed this kind of fight badly and I needed those 12 rounds.
"The only fight that works for me over Kell Brook is Manny Pacquiao. I want him, he is my number one pick. If not we go back to the drawing board and if it's Kell Brook, it's Kell Brook."
Brook wants to come back down to 147lbs to face Khan at welterweight in a festive all-British showdown.
He told Sky Sports: "I'll come down because I'm the governor of the division in this country. I will come down to welterweight to fight him.
"When? Christmas. I want it to be a Christmas Day special!"
