Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that he hopes to agree a deal for Ricky Burns to face Scott Harrison in an all-Scottish affair within the next 12 months.
Hearn has indicated that Burns, who suffered defeat to Dejan Zlaticanin in a WBC lightweight eliminator last Friday, will move to light-welterweight for his next bout as he looks to rebuild his career.
Former WBO featherweight champion Harrison has only fought once in 22 months, but if Burns can come through his next fight, Hearn has admitted that a clash between the two Scots would be a big fight North of the border.
Hearn is quoted by the Daily Record as saying: "Burns has been a long time at lightweight and it becomes a struggle as you get older. He'll have a 10-rounder at light-welterweight in Manchester. It won't be an easy fight but a step in the right direction.
"All going well, then it will be a big domestic fight – and they don't come much bigger than Scott Harrison. It's a fight that's been talked about for a long time in Scotland. That is the biggest Scottish fight out there but there are plenty of options for both men."
Before his defeat to Zlaticanin, Burns had lost his WBO belt to American Terence Crawford.