BOXING star Josh Taylor hailed a “perfect” performance as he beat Warren Joubert to retain his Commonwealth super lightweight title on Friday evening, in front of a packed home crowd.

The Prestonpans ace stopped South African Joubert in the sixth round of their contest at the Meadowbank Arena, Edinburgh, in his first defence of the title he won last October.

The 26-year-old survived a nasty cut to his left eye to retain the title, with the referee stopping the contest after Taylor hit Joubert with a thunderous left hand.

Taylor, who was watched by stable-mates David Haye and Carl Frampton, and Edinburgh boxing legend Ken Buchanan, told Courier Sport: “I’m impressed with that performance.

“He was tougher than I expected – I hit him with some clean shots but he took them and he came back at me and hit me with a couple of good shots himself.

“I took my time in the first couple of rounds and eventually found my rhythm and the last shot was a peach.

“It is a good statement [to stop him] – I didn’t really know much about him so I didn’t really have a gameplan apart from going out and making sure I boxed how I like to box.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever had a cut and it’s quite a bad one and I’ve overcome that as well. I kept nice and calm when it got a bit rough so I’ve learned that about myself.”

Taylor, dubbed the Tartan Tornado, also revealed how he sustained the cut inside the opening round.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist added: “It was a clash of heads in about the first minute – he came in at me and I ducked down and came up and we clashed heads.

“I saw the blood and I didn’t know how bad it was and I didn’t ask in the corner but I’ve seen it in the mirror now and it’s quite a bad one.

“I felt nice and calm and it didn’t phase me one bit.

“That’s just the business we’re in and you can’t get in the water without getting wet – it is just part of the game.”

Boxing legend Barry McGuigan, who signed Taylor to his Cyclone Promotions stable in 2015, was also impressed with the display.

“He is a phenomenal talent,” he said.

“The atmosphere tonight was 20 per cent better than last time [when Taylor beat Dave Ryan in October to win the belt] – the crowd was unbelievable.”

Taylor celebrated his title defence in Edinburgh on Friday night – which included sharing a drink with Joubert.

The 26-year-old posted a picture of the pair on social media and wrote: “Wage war and earn respect. Was great to have a drink with my opponent Warren Joubert after our fight.”

McGuigan, meanwhile, revealed his short-term plans for Taylor.

He said: “He sparred Anthony Yigit [European super lightweight champion] and he was way too good for him.

“We’re not going to get that fight unless we pay stupid money and go to Sweden, so we just have to circumnavigate that.

“I am looking at the top of the mountain because that is where this kid is going – he is going the whole way.”