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Fury to become best heavyweight on planet - Hennessy

Big fights await Tyson Fury © PA Photos

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Unbeaten British heavyweight Tyson Fury is '18 months' away from toppling the Klitschko brothers, according to his promoter Mick Hennessy.

Fury got off the canvas to earn a dramatic third-round stoppage of Neven Pajkic and defend his Commonwealth title on Saturday, extending his perfect record to 17 fights.

While Hennessy has confirmed the 23-year-old's next bout will be in Blackpool on January 28, they are looking at the bigger picture and already forming plans to reel in the division's premier fighters in Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko.

"He's just got to stop getting drawn into a gun fight and start being smart," Hennessy said. "Once he does that he's the best heavyweight on the planet. He wants the Klitschkos. So 18 months from now he'll beat the Klitschkos.

"He's got a lot of work to do, but by the time he gets there in 16 to 18 months' time he'll be a different fighter."

Pajkic may have entered the contest with only five knockouts to his name in a 16-fight career, but he managed to drop Fury in the second round with an overhand right. The Brit recovered, flooring his opponent twice before the referee stepped in, but the 6ft 9in Fury admits he has improvements to make.

"I was too relaxed I think," he said. "As soon as I got hit I woke up. Champions go down and come back up, and it shows true grit to get up and knock the other guy out.

"I don't know what it is, I get tagged and I'm half asleep sometimes. That first round, I was totally eyes closed, then I got caught, got woken up and pulled it out of the bag."

Meanwhile, David Price - who is currently preparing to take on John McDermott on January 21 - has warned Fury he is out to ruin his hopes of getting to the top.

"Fury is the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion and I respect him for that but after I get past John McDermott I will be out to prove a point," he told boxingscene.com. "I beat Fury in the amateurs and I will beat in the Pros and I just hope that both promoters can get this fight on but it is up to the board of control to sanction this fight.

"I give Tyson Fury credit. To get up off the canvas and go on to win the fight takes a lot of heart and courage and I hope he shows the same guts by taking me on, this is a fight that the British public want and deserve."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.