BOXING sensation Josh Taylor will fight for a world title within the next 12 months, according to his manager.

The Prestonpans star is managed by hall of fame legend Barry McGuigan, and the Northern Irishman has long hailed Taylor as a top star.

And as details of Taylor's WBC Silver super lightweight title defence against Miguel Vazquez were confirmed last week, McGuigan outlined a timeframe for the 26-year-old to contest a world title fight for the first time.

The 54-year-old said: "He’s a world-class talent but the problem with guys like him is that if you tread water too long, they can get bored and waste a lot of time in the gym.

"But Josh has the kind of skill that means we can move him aggressively. We can start at a fast pace and just keep going.

“I don’t want him to be waiting too long.

"I want to get him into a world title fight within a year.”

McGuigan hopes that Taylor's return to the ring against former IBF world super lightweight champion Vazquez at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, on November 11 will provide Taylor with a stern test.

He praised the 30-year-old Mexican as a "terrific fighter" and said he was a "big step up" from Taylor's previous opponents.

Reflecting on the seventh-round dismantling of Ohara Davies in Glasgow in July, McGuigan said: "Davies was a very dangerous guy but he took care of him."

And looking ahead to the fight with former world champion Vazquez, who held the IBF for nearly four years, he added: "This is a great fight for JT and we are all confident he can pull it off.

"He [Taylor] has the ability to go all the way.

"I believe he will go on to become the world super lightweight champion and this [fight against Vazquez] is a really good opportunity for him."

Taylor, meanwhile, said it was his "dream" to contest a world title fight.

The former Preston Lodge High School pupil added: "I back my own ability to be a world champion but I've got the best guy in the business [McGuigan] helping me to get there.

"This is what I've trained my whole life for and it is my dream to be world champion, so it's time to get my head down and make it a reality.

"At this stage I thought I'd be fighting six or eight round fights and building my way up but I've made great progress and I know what my ability is and I know that I belong at the top.

"I'd like to get there soon and stay there for as long as I can."