Promoter Mick Hennessy believes Tyson Fury will be the "best heavyweight on the planet" within a year and a half.

Fury picked himself up off the canvas to make a successful defence of his Commonwealth title against Neven Pajkic in Manchester on Saturday night.

Canadian Pajkic, 34, dumped fury onto the seat of his pants with a big overhand right in round two to give Fury's vocal fans a fright.

But the 23-year-old British champion responded to the first knockdown of his unblemished 17-fight career by flooring Pajkic twice before forcing a conclusion 17 seconds from the end of the next session.

Fury regularly talks of world champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko being in his sights and Hennessy believes he can he 23-year-old can rule his division by early 2013.

He said: "He's just got to stop getting drawn into a gunfight and start being smart.

"Once he does that he's the best heavyweight on the planet. I'd say we're probably about 16 months away.

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

"I honestly believe he could beat (WBA champion Alexander) Povetkin tomorrow. But he's looking bigger than that, he's better than that.

"He wants the Klitschkos. So 18 months from now he'll beat the Klitschkos."

Fury admitted he had been "too relaxed" in the early stages against Pajkic and jokingly welcomed the early wake-up call he received.

When asked how the knockdown felt, he joked: "The greatest feeling you've ever felt in your life - what do you think it felt like!

"I was too relaxed I think. 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.

"I was rocked in my last two fights and dropped in the third one so who knows what's going to happen. That's what's exciting about me."

Hennessy revealed plans for Fury to fight again in Blackpool in January before making his US debut at New York's Madison Square Garden in March.

"Hopefully I'm going to have a big year next year with plenty of fights, plenty of wins and plenty of excitement," said Fury, whose confidence does not appear to have been dented by the frailties displayed in recent outings.

"I wouldn't fear going in with any man in the world," he added.

"I believe I can beat any man."