Tasif Khan should be boxing for a title within a year, according to trainer Rick Manners.

The Bradford bantamweight recently delivered a polished performance in front of the Sky cameras in his first fight for 14 months.

Khan, backed by 170 noisy fans in the Bolton Arena, out-boxed Middlesbrough’s Francis Croes over six rounds.

And Manners saw enough to convince him that regular work in the gym can push Khan up to the next level.

He said: “I was happy with the performance considering Taz has been out a year, which I’m not a fan of.

“Now he is training full-time and not part-time, I’m confident Taz can reach championship level within the next year and make Bradford proud.”

Khan, from Girlington, has had a stop-start career since joining the paid-for ranks in 2005. It was only his sixth outing and third win.

But after seeing the frustration of several late call-offs, the 27-year-old is ready to step it up with a more demanding schedule.

He said: “I felt good going in and I really enjoyed the fight.

“I had a bit of ring rust so that is why I calculated my work. I took no silly chances and got my win.

“Croes fought well but I boxed better and gave him very few chances. But I know there is a long way to go and I’m up for the challenge – I will be a champion.”