RICKY BURNS is close to agreeing a deal to defend his WBA super-lightweight crown against former four-weight world champion Adrien Broner in Las Vegas in February.

The 33-year-old Coatbridge boxer's manager, Alex Morrison claimed yesterday that negotiations are at an advanced stage for Burns to receive a life-changing purse.

But flyweight legend Barry McGuigan says that it is only a matter of time before Burns and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Josh Taylor go head-to-head in a Scottish superfight.

Burns out-pointed Belarusian Kiryl Relikh in a mandatory defence of his world crown at the weekend while Prestonpans boxer Taylor is preparing for a crack at the Commonwealth title.

Unbeaten Taylor, who is managed by McGuigan, is due to face Englishman Dave Ryan at Meadowbank a week on Friday.

But McGuigan is looking beyond Taylor's seventh pro bout after claiming: "If it's Broner next for Burns, it's a way for Broner to win another world title.

"I know I'm talking as if Ricky would lose that fight, but the reality is the way he performed against Relikh he would.

"Although Burns is still world class, I don't think he is any longer the fighter he used to be.

"With that in mind, what does he then do? Does he reset his sights and go for another world title or might he be interested in a big Scottish showdown with Taylor somewhere down the line?

"In this business there are young guys who come along and mouth-off about kicking ass.

"But Taylor is the exact opposite. He has the greatest respect for Burns and what he has achieved in becoming Scotland's first three-weight world champion, and why wouldn't he?

"But if things go to plan against Ryan and he keeps advancing at the rate he is towards titles, a fight with Burns is a distinct possibility.

"Josh has had only six professional fights but the way he has performed in the ring and in sparring against a variety of big, competent fast guys who have tested him in every department, I would give him a chance against anybody.

"But why would Burns entertain the idea of fighting a kid on the way up who hasn't done anything yet?

"The fact is all boxers only have a certain shelf life so I think he would have to start thinking realistically about Taylor because if Josh continues to develop it would be a huge fight."

Meanwhile, Tyson Fury could be stripped of his licence at a meeting of the British Boxing Board of Control today.

Fury's case will be discussed by officials after a reported failed drugs test in the United States and his admission in Rolling Stone magazine that he has "done lots of cocaine".

A suspension is likely to expedite confirmation of a fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua for the newly-vacant world heavyweight titles.