Sport Shorts

Fury defends Commonwealth title

Commonwealth heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s first title defence was a successful one, as he stopped Canadian Nevan Pajkic last Saturday night in his native Manchester. The technical knockout came in round 3 – although the defeated Pajkic was incensed by the referee’s decision to end the bout so early. After a scrappy opening round the 6ft 9ins, 18 stone Mancunian was knocked down in the second by an arching right from Pajkic. In Fury’s words: “It shook up the brain but I need a bit of shaking up to wake up.” His long jab prevented Pajkic from pressing the advantage and in round three roles were reversed, as the Canadian his the mat twice in quick succession, prompting the stoppage. It is a tentative first step on a road that Fury hopes will lead to the world-champion Klitschko brothers

London 2017; Gold Coast 2018

In the same week that Australia’s Gold Coast won the 2018 Commonwealth Games, London celebrated being awarded the honour of hosting the 2017 IAAF World Championships. Described by bid leader Sebastian Coe as “ the natural continuation of the work being done on 2012 [Olympics],” the 2017 Worlds will take place in the Olympic Stadium, timed around late July to avoid clashes with the football season. Jessica Ennis has already told of how she will now be altering her career plans; the 25 year-old heptathlete – in contention for Olympic gold next Summer – said: “I hope [31] is not too old and there is still some life in my bones.”

Hamilton returns to form in Abu Dhabi

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton made a long-awaited return to form by winning F1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last Sunday. Aided by the early retirement of champion Vettel, who had led away from pole yet again, Hamilton still had to resist relentless pressure from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. However, to slightly dampen Hamilton’s day, fellow McLaren driver Jenson Button finished third to ensure that Hamilton will finish behind a teammate in the drivers’ championship for the first time in his career.