BARRY McGuigan reckons Josh Taylor is so good that all of Scotland should be granted the chance to take ownership of him. But that doesn't mean the Irish fight legend isn't hell bent on matchmaking the biggest East-West all-Scottish boxing showdown since the days of Ken Buchanan and Jim Watt. Having taken just five rounds to see off Dave Ryan and land the vacant Commonwealth Super Lightweight title on Friday night, McGuigan confirmed that the next target for the 25-year-old from Prestonpans was a world title shot against Ricky Burns, ideally before the end of next year.

Along with his stablemates Carl Frampton and George Groves, Buchanan was a visitor to the Meadowbank Arena on the night as the Commonwealth gold medalist from Glasgow 2014 produced the kind of electrifying performance which emphasised just why he is one of the most talked about talents in the sport.

"We’ve got great respect for Ricky Burns but at the rate this guy is making progress we are not afraid to lock horns with him in nine months to a year - absolutely," said McGuigan. "He is the target. He is one we are looking at. He is the world super lightweight champion and he is here [in Scotland]. It couldn't be a better set of circumstances. While Ricky is a great fighter I don't think he is the fighter he was and this kid is making unbelievable improvements."

Prior to Friday night, Ryan had fought 181 rounds as a professional, only being stopped once - and even that was when he succumbed to a kidney injury in mid-fight. Taylor by contrast had just nine rounds under his belt in six pro fights, but you would hardly have guessed the disparity in their relative experience on Friday night. McGuigan gushed about his fighter's quick hands and shot selection, with perhaps the scariest thing of all how much improvement should still be to come.

"It was a great performance," said McGuigan. "He is gelling so well with Shane [McGuigan's son, Taylor's trainer]. The big thing was going from three rounds to 12 rounds but we knew we could hit the ground running with him because he is so naturally talented.

"He is a tremendous puncher, a wicked puncher, he didn't even hit this guy clean once tonight," he added. "But his selection is great, his body shots are great. He hits the body, hits the head. Shows it, bends it, you don't know where it is coming from. You could see as the rounds were going on that he was becoming more relaxed. You need the rounds to get that and he will have to fight very tough guys along the way. But I have said all along that I think he is a wonderful talent."

Whether this fight with Burns ever comes to fruition - Scotland's first ever three-weight world champion has bigger things on his mind right now, as he attempts to secure a money-spinning bout with Adrien Broner in Las Vegas - McGuigan is determined that fight fans all over Scotland should buy into Taylor. In addition to the SSE Hydro, the venue where the self-style Pride of Prestonpans landed gold in 2014, the state-of-the-art arena at the Gleneagles Hotel is under consideration for future contests. But the immediate future for Taylor, assuming he is given the all-clear from the doctor, is a first defence of this title on the undercard of a Groves show at the Wembley Arena next month.

"Buchanan and Watt had a sort of Edinburgh-Glasgow divide but we don't want that," said McGuigan. "We want this kid to be recognised everywhere so we are going to move him around. The Hydro is a great venue and Gleneagles is good as well. But first of all he is going to London, assuming his hands are okay and his body is alright."

"I would say I give Josh at least an eight or a nine out of ten at this stage of his career," was the ver "This was only his seventh pro fight and it was a massive step up. Dave Ryan has only been stopped once - and that was on an injury. He has beaten some big level guys but Josh didn't lose a round, just took him out. We always knew he had that capability. It is just about when we really let him off the hook.

"He will blow all these domestic guys out the water so we have to be very selective about our next opponent," he added. "I don't think he will get tested until world level but a couple of fights, one or two, at this level. The problem is that this domestic and European scene are around the same level, then you are up to world level and there is a massive gulf in class. We are going to have to be very selective, but he is in the gym every day, raring to go. It is just a case of holding the reigns back."

Despite an acrimonious build up to the fight due to some disrespectful comments from Ryan's trainer Clifton Mitchell, everything was sweetness and light between the two camps afterwards. "I was kind of annoyed with Clifton because of his comments but I knew it was just bluster," said Barry McGuigan. "You win with humility, that is the culture in our gym. There is so much conceit and arrogance in the world. It is nice to be nice."