ON the night that Amir Khan announced himself to the world, Tyson Fury was doing little to enhance his own lofty reputation in the more modest surroundings of York Hall, Bethnell Green.

The Manchester heavyweight is tipped to be a future world title contender - but his second-round knockout of an out-of-shape Aleksandrs Selezens on Saturday did little to help his development as a fighter or acquire him many new fans.

He at least became the first man to stop the Latvian, whose performance was so rank that it is hard to believe he had managed to escape the same fate in his previous 39 clashes.

Fury himself admitted it was a disappointing spectacle, but having overcome back injuries just to make it into the ring, he has promised much improvement when he takes on John McDermott for the English title in September.

The 21-year-old is eager to prove that the hype surrounding him is well justified and sees McDermott as the first obstacle on his way to British supremacy.

"For my next fight I will be in 100 per cent better condition," he said. "My back was bad and I promise to be a lot better.

"It has put me out of two fights already and this was nearly the third. I trapped a nerve in my back and had severe internal bruising in the lumbar muscle.

Fans

"I wasn't supposed to box, but a lot of people came and a lot of people paid money, so I wasn't going to let my fans down.

"It's a learning curve. He was no threat, but I stopped him and no one else could. I got him out of there so it is another one for the record.

"I knew I wasn't in great shape. But I'm glad I made it because of my bad back. I'm seven and 0. Seven knockouts so bring them on.

"Line them up and I'll knock them down."

McDermott is the next man Fury intends to knock down - and he insists the English champion would be a fool to read too much into the Selezens fight.

"After he's fought me he's never going to want to fight again because I am going to absolutely destroy him," he said. "This was a little stupid thing.

"He was just trying to hold me and get close and it spoils it for everyone who turned up. Tyson is going to stop people like that all day.

"A fat feller like McMuffin will think he can do the same thing. He will watch that and get confidence thinking he can get in close, but that was nothing really. McMuffin will get it.

"The rest of you guys out there, you are all getting it. That's a promise from Tyson Fury. All these heavyweights are going to get it, there's only going to be one man standing and that's Tyson Fury."