• Tyson Fury v Neven Pajkic

Fury survives first knockdown to finish Pajkic

Tyson Fury saw off Neven Pajkic - but only after a scare © PA Photos

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Tyson Fury bounced back after being knocked down for the first time in his professional career to claim a third round stoppage against Neven Pajkic in the defence of his Commonwealth heavyweight title.

Fury, fighting in his home town of Manchester, suffered a real scare in the second round against the 34-year-old Canadian, as he was put on the canvas after a clean overhand right. But he collected himself at the end of the round and came out firing in the third - putting Pajkic on the floor twice before the referee was given little choice but to end the contest.

"Yeah, I gave myself a scare there!" Fury said afterwards. "He got me with a good shot, I went down - but I got back up and I finished the job."

It was an impressive finish from Fury, although the early part of the contest will have done little to convince doubters that the 23-year-old is a viable world title contender. The first round between the two unbeaten fighters (both 16-0) was a scrappy, awkward affair - with neither fighter really establishing a flow or rhythm.

The contest sparked into life in the second round, however, after Fury got caught with a flush shot that was perhaps the price for some creeping carelessness. Having attempted to unleash a flurry of punches on his opponent, Fury left himself wide open - and Pajkic connected with a precise overhand right that sent Fury crashing to the floor.

Fury seemed to show little ill-effect from the punch - getting up and shaking off the referee's count before it reached six - but nevertheless needed to be careful to see out the round so he could fully collect himself in his corner. That he managed, coming out for the third round with a steely resolve to make amends.

Immediately setting himself up behind the jab - perhaps his greatest weapon - Fury then gave Pajkic a taste of his own medicine, putting him on the deck with another flush hit. Pajkic got up but was clearly flustered, falling again at the next sign of impact.

For the second time he picked himself off and declared himself ready to continue but, as Fury moved in for another onslaught, the referee decided enough was enough and ended the bout.

"It shook up the brain a bit, but then again I think I need shaking up sometimes," Fury said of his earlier scare. "I've got to give Neven good credit for coming here and putting on a terrific fight. Three knockdowns - it's always exciting with Tyson Fury!

"I'm now looking for bigger and better fights in the future."

Earlier in the night, Chris Eubank Jnr claimed his first victory as a professional after a fourth round stoppage against Kirrilis Psonko.

Psonko, appearing in his 12th fight of 2011, never seemed to get to grips with Eubank's power and movement - with the referee calling time on the contest short of the scheduled six rounds after it became clear he was on his last legs.

Eubank, son of the former middleweight world champion, was satisfied with his debut performance.

"It was a good experience. I went out there and enjoyed myself, got a couple of rounds under my belt. I'm very happy with the performance," he said.

"It's been my dream ever since I was a young teen to step up and fight in the pro ranks. There's a lot of pressure, a lot to live up to, but I'm good under pressure - it makes me want to work harder to prove myself."

His famous father added: "It was an almost perfect performance. It will give my son the right sort of experience to help him climb the ranks.

"I can't find any holes in the young man. He's dangerous."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.