JOSH Taylor’s unbeaten start to his professional boxing career continued as he beat Alfonso Olvera at the world-famous MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The Prestonpans fighter was victorious by unanimous decision as the fight, Taylor’s eighth as a professional, went the distance – the first time he had not stopped an opponent.

But judges had Taylor well in front throughout the contest, and he was awarded the bout 79-72, 78-73, 78-73.

Despite victory, Taylor, who became Commonwealth super lightweight champion in Edinburgh in October, was disappointed with his performance.

The ‘Tartan Tornado’ said: “I was a bit too eager to put on a good show on the big stage.

“It was good to get the eight rounds in – he [Olvera] was very awkward; he left himself very open but kept coming at me with shots from awkward angles.

“It was a decent performance and we’ll move on to the next one.”

Taylor, boxing in America for the third time but making his debut in the ‘fight capital of the world’, said the experience had been “absolutely brilliant”.

“I can’t wait to come back and do it all again,” said the 26-year-old.

His performance also won praise from Carl Froch, the former four-time super-middleweight world champion, who said: “It was a good performance – it is good to get the rounds under the belt. We know he’s got the skills to go places – everyone is tipping him to do big things.”

Danielle Murphy, Taylor’s girlfriend of nearly seven years, travelled to Vegas too and was full of praise after Taylor sealed an eighth straight professional win.

She said: “I’m so proud of Josh – this is the kind of fight he needed. [Olvera] was a tough nut to crack but Josh still did it.”

She also thanked everyone who sent congratulatory messages, adding: “Thank you, we appreciate the support.”

Taylor is set to return to the UK later this week, and his next fight looks likely to be in front of a home crowd.

He previously told Courier Sport he expects to defend his Commonwealth super lightweight title at the Meadowbank Arena next month.

Barry McGuigan, Taylor’s manager and a former world champion, also hoped to see Taylor fight at home again, after more than 1,500 people packed out Meadowbank to watch his fifth-round stoppage of Dave Ryan for the title in October.

After that fight, 55-year-old McGuigan said: “The atmosphere at Meadowbank was incredible – we’ll definitely be back.

“We’ve [also] looked at taking fights to Glasgow and Gleneagles, which is a bit smaller but the facilities are good.”