G'day sports fans,

"I'd stick my head up a dead bear's bum if it made me putt really good."

- Australian golfer Peter Lonard on his desperation to improve on the greens

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🥊 Fury dominates Wilder in Vegas

🏉 Roosters go back-to-back

⚽️ WSW pump Adelaide

Some house-keeping, I'm away to Morocco 🇲🇦 tomorrow for a week. I was going to take the time off but I've made a commitment to get these out to you each Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I'm sticking to it dammit!

The next few editions of SJ will have a slightly different look. 1-3 short and sharp breaking news stories, a classic sport story and perhaps a Book/Netflix/Podcast recommendation - We're calling it Sport Journal Lite.

Sensational Fury stops Wilder to win world title

Tyson Fury completed one of the greatest comebacks in modern sports history when he knocked out Deontay Wilder in the seventh round to add the WBC’s version of the world heavyweight championship to his own lineal claim to the title, delivering the definitive outcome their first encounter failed to produce.

The Gypsy King, whose career appeared finished when he left the sport for more than two years amid public battles with addiction and mental illness, made good on his promise to press for a knockout in the hotly anticipated rematch against a man regarded as boxing’s most dangerous puncher.

As promised, he came forward from the opening bell, dropped the champion for the first time in a decade with a right hand to the temple in the third round, then again with a clubbing left to the body in the fifth.

By the sixth, Wilder was bleeding from his left ear, his legs were gone and he appeared unable to adequately defend himself as Fury ruthlessly picked him apart.

When referee Kenny Bayless waved it off at the 1:39 mark of the seventh after the champion’s corner threw in the towel, it set off scenes of pandemonium among the sold-out crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where the total gate was confirmed as $16,916,440 (highest-grossing gate for a Heavyweight title fight in Nevada history).

“He is a warrior. He will be back. He will be champion again.” - Said Fury of Wilder.

🏉 NRL

Back-to-back! Roosters make history in World Club Challenge win over St Helens

Sydney Roosters lifted a record equalling fourth World Club Challenge as Joseph Manu’s two tries proved decisive. Final score 12-20.

The Australian side continued their remarkable collection of silverware under coach Trent Robinson by also becoming the first club to successfully the retain the trophy.

In a pulsating, bruising contest, the Roosters were forced to dig deep defensively in the second half to hold off the Super League champions before a late Luke Keary breakaway try sealed the win. (Fox)

NRL All-Stars: Indigenous 16-30 Maori

They faded late in the contest last year - it wasn’t to happen twice - as the Maori All Stars run home comfortable winners in the final quarter.

Brandon Smith stamped himself as a player to watch in 2020 with a stunning two-try performance to lead the New Zealand Maori to a stunning 30-16 come-from-behind victory over the Indigenous All Stars on the Gold Coast.

Brandon Smith with a brace of tries, Kayln Ponga huge at the back, and it’s plenty of smiles for those in green at full time. Great celebrations, and their fans in the crowd are delighted.

A tough, fast, high-quality contest. What a start to the 2020 NRL season.(NRL)

Winmar, in the season of 1993, became immortalised when he took a stand against racism and the photo snapped is now one of Australian sport’s finest moments.

The St Kilda legend responded to racist taunts by Collingwood supporters by lifting his AFL jersey and simply pointing to his skin.

And on Saturday night on the Gold Coast, Addo-Carr re-enacted the moment in a surprising tribute that made onlookers’ spines tingle.

👀 Folau watch: The Roosters are reportedly keeping a close eye on Israel Folau’s progress in the Super League with an eye to signing him for the 2021 season.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that the Roosters see Folau as a potential replacement for veterans Brett Morris and Mitchell Aubusson, who are both expected to leave the club at the end of the 2020 season.

⚽️ Football

A-League round-up

Newcastle Jets 1-1 Melbourne Victory:(report) O’Donovan scores on his Kets return but Toivonen salvages draw for Victory.

Brisbane Roar 1-1 Perth Glory: (report) Late Gillesphey goal hands Roar a hard-earned point against Perth.

Western Sydney Wanderers 5-2 Adelaide United: (report) A crazy, see-sawing contest on Friday night which saw six goals in the first half.

Wellington Phoenix 2-0 Western United: (report) Cacace and Ball send Phoenix third as Western United crumble.

Central Coast Mariners 0-3 Sydney FC: Runaway A-League leaders saw off a surprisingly gutsy challenge from last-placed Central Coast Mariners to claim a 3-0 win in Gosford, as a dream debut for young gun Marco Tilio stole the headlines.

Today: Man United won 3-0 against Watford & Wolves beat Norwich by the same margin. Arsenal edged their match 3-2 against Everton

🎾 Tennis

Priceless reaction of Malek Jaziri to being drawn against No. 1 seed Djokovic at the Dubai Tennis Championship.

🏏 Cricket

‘Boys against men’ in the first match

Australia had the chance on Sunday to make a mockery of its daunting return to South Africa by claiming a T20 series win in straight sets.: ‘Pitiful’ South Africa slammed after Aussie demolition job.

Things didn’t go to plan in the Second match;

🇺🇸 'Merica

Fans roast NBA star’s big tattoo blunder

When you get a tattoo that goes across your entire back, you want to make sure that it’s spot on – as Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum discovered.

The good news: We presume adding an apostrophe to a tattoo is easier than removing one

🇦🇺 AFL

After just one pre-season game, a Melbourne tease has emerged as a Brownlow Medal bolter.

Plus a Bulldogs beast appears to be getting even better - somehow.

That, and everything else we learned from the first week of the Marsh Community Series - as well as scratch and intra-club matches - in It’s Only Pre-Season, But...(continue to article)

AFLW:

Friday Night result: St Kilda 3.1 (19) defeat Melbourne 1.8 (14)

Saturday: Fremantle 5.3 (33) defeat Collingwood 4.6 (30)

Gold Coast Suns 4.4 (28) draw Brisbane 4.4 (28)

Western Bulldogs 4.6 (30) lose to Carlton 8.3 (51)

🏉 Rugby

6 Nations:

France remain on course for a first Grand Slam in 10 years after winning in Cardiff for the first time since 2010. edging out a close encounter 24-27.

Fly-half Romain Ntamack's 17-point haul included a try, while full-back Anthony Bouthier and second-row Paul Willemse also crossed.

Scotland can now play with the "pressure lifted" after a gritty first Six Nations win against Italy, says head coach Gregor Townsend.

Tries from Stuart Hogg, Chris Harris and Adam Hastings earned a 17-0 win.

England v Ireland: England dominated Ireland for virtually the whole 80mins. In a way the 24-12 flattered Ireland. It’s now down to France to se if they can pull off the grand slam.

Super Rugby: Rebels lose; Brumbies win away; Reds thump Sunwolves

Chiefs 14-26 Brumbies

A fine performance from Noah Lolesio who guided his pack around the park brilliantly, with some resolute defence and fine work at the breakdown late on prevents the inevitable Chiefs’ come back. Big win. Great for the Australian game.

Rebels 24-36 Sharks

Some positives to be extracted for the Rebels, but ultimately they were unable to land any sort of blow and will rue not taking full advantage when the Sharks were down to 13 men.

Reds 64-5 Sunwolves

It was pretty emphatic. A terrific home performance from the Queenslanders who were simply a gear above for most of the game. The Sunwolves scored late to spare their blushes, a little, but that was an utter rout.

Super W:

Rebels 22-25 Brumbies

The Brumbies did enough to make it two from two this season. The Rebels came hard in the closing stages, with Walker’s try after 63 minutes making the scoreboard all square, but a penalty to Woodie 10 minutes later gave the Brumbies a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Rugby WA 5-80 Queensland

It was 40 at the break, it’s 80 at the final whistle. Too much experience, too much muscle, too much fast running. As a slight consolation at least the home side get on the board, but they were handed a real rugby lesson.

We'll be back on Wednesday with a crisp, cold Sport Journal Lite

📺 Live sport

Monday

🏌🏻‍♂️06:30 - PGA Tour, Puerto Rico Open, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 06:45 - Serie A - Inter Milan v Sampdoria (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - La Liga - Atletico Madrid v Villarreal (BeIN Sports 3)

🏀 07:30 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Boston Celtics (ESPN 1)

🎾 07:30 - TennisATP World Tour 500ATP Rio Open, Final, Day 7ESPN 2

🏏 09:30 - Test Match - New Zealand v India (Fox Cricket)

🏀 10:00 - NBA - Denver Nuggets v Minnesota Timberwolves (Sky Sports 2)

🏈 10:00 - XFL - Los Angeles Wildcats v DC Defenders (ESPN 2)

🏀 13:00 - NBA - Portland Trail Blazers v Detroit Pistons (Sky Sports 2)

🏏18:00 - Women's T20 World Cup - Australia v Sri Lanka (Fox Cricket)

🏏22:00 - Women's T20 World - India v Bangladesh (Fox Cricket)

🎾 22:00 - WTA Qatar Open, Round 1, Day 2 (BeIN Sports 3)

Tuesday

⚽️ 06:30 - Bundesliga - Eintracht Frankfurt v FC Union Berlin (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Liverpool v West Ham United (Optus Sport 1)

🎾 09:00 - WTA Abierto Mexicano, Round 1, Day 1 (BeIN Sports 3)

🏏 09:30 - Test Match, New Zealand v India (Fox Cricket)

🏀 11:00 - NCAA - Florida State Seminoles v Louisville Cardinals (ESPN 1)

🏀 13:00 - NCAA - Kansas Jayhawks v Oklahoma State Cowboys (ESPN 1)

🏅17:00 - Bowls Premier League, Night 1 (Fox Sports)

🎾 22:00 - WTA Qatar Open, Round 2, Day 3 (BeIN Sports 3)