JOSH TAYLOR has his sights set on becoming a two-weight world champion – but admits emulating countryman Ricky Burns by winning a belt in three different divisions might be beyond him.

The undisputed champion is mulling over his next move after sweeping the board at super-lightweight.

One appetising prospect would be stepping up to welterweight to take on undefeated Terence Crawford, although the 30 year-old insists everything is on the table still at this point, including staying at super-lightweight.

He said: “I could be a career 140 lb-er. I’m not in a rush to go up to 147 lbs. I’m making the weight comfortably.

“But, me being me, I’m very ambitious. I now want to become a two-weight world champion. And that would mean me really cementing my place in the history books.

“I’m an ambitious fighter and that’s what I want to do, keep setting new goals.

“To become a champion at three weights I’d probably have to go back to lightweight. I probably could do it now I have a nutritionist on board.

“But I’m also 30 now and maybe going to 135 lbs would take a wee bit too much steam out of me. That’s maybe too much of a risk.

“So if I were to try to do it at three weights I’d probably need to move up to light-middle which might be a bit too much of a jump in terms of natural size and strength.

“But I’d give it a go if it came about. If the right fight came about I wouldn’t say no to it.”

Taylor admits he has “a target on his back” after defeating Jose Ramirez but says he has no interest in fighting Teofimo Lopez, the unified lightweight champion.

“Lopez is saying that he’s an undisputed world champion when he isn’t – he only has three of the belts,” added the Prestonpans fighter.

“He still has business to take care of at lightweight but he’s obviously just bumping his gums because he wants the big fights, which is understandable.

“If that happens, it happens: I’d happily take the fight and cut him down to size. I’d bring him down to earth with a bang.

“I genuinely think I’d beat him up if we ever meet but I’ve no real interest in Teofimo Lopez. How they can have the audacity to say I’m scared of him is...it’s just a joke. It’s quite funny.

“But I have this big target on my back now, with everyone asking me what’s happening next and how much time I’ll be taking off.

“I’ll be back in the gym [tomorrow], not punching – I need to let my hands heal – but working out. Or maybe doing roadwork to keep myself ticking over.

“The hard work is just beginning now because of this bull’s eye. Everyone wants a piece of me and, although I've worked hard to get here I’m going to need to work even harder to keep what I have.”

Taylor remains in thrall to Ken Buchanan, his former mentor and the last Scot to take on the mantle of undisputed world champion.

Meeting up with the 75 year-old in his care home is difficult because of Covid regulations but the Prestonpans fighter hopes there may be a way around it.

“I spoke to one of his handlers, who sent me a video of Ken saying: ‘Well done, son – I’m glad you’ve done it.’ “I’ve tried to arrange to see him but that might prove quite difficult at the moment with everything that’s going on but, hopefully, there could be a way around it – maybe I could meet him in the park or a coffee shop. I’d love to do that and so would he.

“The similarities between us are incredible. I went over to America and fought in the lion’s den to bring back all the belts just like he did.

“Even the nicknames – I only found out last year that he was called the Tartan Legend and, of course, I’m the Tartan Tornado.

“So I’d love to fight in Madison Square Garden, where he ruled the roost 50 years ago. I actually wanted the Ramirez fight to be there because of the massive Scottish and Irish contingency on the East Coast.

“Under normal circumstances, that fight would have been in New York but I do have a desire to box there in front of that expat audience.”