Wednesday 23 November 2016 15:53, UK
Barry McGuigan says his Scottish star Josh Taylor will be good enough to challenge world champion Ricky Burns next year.
Taylor won the Commonwealth super-lightweight title in only his seventh fight last month, stopping Dave Ryan in five rounds.
British rival Ohara Davies is fighting Italian Andrea Scarpa at Wembley's SSE Arena on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, but McGuigan insists his prospect is a "level above" the Londoner and wants an all-Scottish world title fight with WBA super-lightweight champion Burns, in 2017.
"Ohara Davies has to do something first. He's a nice kid and looks like he can punch a bit but he has to show what he's got," he told Sky Sports.
"I am looking at Ricky Burns. I am not looking at Ohara Davies, I am looking at Burns, in the next nine months to a year.
"Let's be honest, that's where Taylor's going. We're not that interested in the British title because Ohara probably would be interested in fighting (Tyrone) Nurse and if they can meet down the line and Ohara turns into the fighter we all think he will, then perhaps.
"But Burns is a no-brainer. He is the WBA regular title holder and is a huge star, a three-weight world champion and someone we all respect.
"I do think though, in a short space of time, Taylor is going to be at that level, at least ready to move into that level."
McGuigan signed Taylor after watching him win the Commonwealth gold medal in Glasgow in 2014.
The 25-year-old had not gone more than two rounds until facing Ryan for the vacant Commonwealth title and although his manager admits he now needs to get more rounds under his belt, he is convinced 'The Tartan Tornado' will become Scotland's number one.
"Josh Taylor ticks all the boxes," said McGuigan.
"He's a little bit wild, a bit of a space cadet but we love him. He's fun, he's a nice kid and a lovely family. He also has a big fan-base. He put 2,000 people in the Meadowbank a couple of weeks ago.
"That was his seventh fight and we thought we'd get someone decent and experience to take him more than two rounds and the distance, but he just blew him away. I knew Taylor would handle him well and I am very excited about him.
"Look back, Scotland had Ken Buchanan, Jim Watt, Scott Harrison and of course Ricky Burns, who has been the stand-out for Scottish boxing, who is very, very special.
"I am not being disparaging to any other Scotland champions that have been around and we have the utmost respect for Ricky Burns, but I am telling you now, within nine months to a year, Taylor will be ready to fight him."
McGuigan was speaking to Sky Sports at the German Doner Kebab UK, Kilburn, branch launch event.
Watch Ohara Davies v Andreas Scarpa, as well as Katie Taylor v Karina Kopinska, Ben Hall v Carson Jones, and Martin J Ward v Ronnie Clark on a busy Wembley bill, with live coverage starting at 8pm on Saturday on Sky Sports 2.
