EAST Lothian boxing star Josh Taylor will return to the ring at one of the most famous sporting venues in the world in the New Year.

The Prestonpans ace, the Commonwealth super lightweight champion, will fight on the undercard of stable-mate Carl Frampton’s WBA world featherweight title rematch against Leo Santa Cruz on January 28 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Although no opponent has been confirmed, Taylor, dubbed the Tartan Tornado, is relishing another big test.

He told Courier Sport: “It’s another big step and a great opportunity for me so early on in my professional career.

“The fight will be over 10 rounds, so we’re hoping to get a good, hard fight.”

The 25-year-old is back in training with Shane McGuigan in London, and is “not bothered” about having to put in hours of training over the festive period.

He added: “It’s all part of the job so I’ve just got to get on with it.

“It doesn’t really bother me at all to be honest – the only thing is not being able to have the big Christmas dinner, but it’s not an issue really.”

Taylor returned to London earlier this week to begin preparations for his fight at the MGM Grand.

“I managed to stay up the road [in Prestonpans] for a wee while and that was nice,” he said. “It was good to spend a bit of time with family and friends and catch up with folk.

“I came back down to London this week and I’m in the gym now getting ready.

“I’ll be working hard in the gym so I’m ready to go come January.”

Taylor, who won the Commonwealth super lightweight title with a fifth-round stoppage of Dave Ryan at the Meadowbank Arena in Edinburgh in October, is also looking forward to a return home, with his first defence of his title set for March.

The Commonwealth Games 2014 gold medallist added: “The fight in Vegas won’t be for the Commonwealth title.

“I’m coming back up the road for the first defence in March.

“We’re going to be back at the Meadowbank Arena – the atmosphere was amazing last time and hopefully it’ll be the same again.”

Taylor, a former Preston Lodge High School pupil, also laughed off an online spat with fellow super lightweight Ohara Davies.

Davies, 24, criticised Taylor’s opponent Dave Ryan as a “glorified journeyman” on Twitter, while adding about Taylor: “He thinks he’s beat a world beater” and “he can’t punch either”.

The county ace, though, laughed off the row, and said: “I don’t think he’s the sharpest tool in the box to be honest.

“He’s been saying he was keen to fight but I decided to reply to his comments and he’s gone all quiet since then.

“It would be nice [to fight Davies] just to shut him up, but he doesn’t seem like he’s that interested to be honest, so I don’t think it’ll happen.

“Whether it does or not, I’m not that bothered.”