By Elliot Foster

Josh Taylor will return to the ring next month.

The Commonwealth super-lightweight champion was last in action over eight rounds in Las Vegas.

Taylor (9-0, 7 KOs) strode to a points decision at the MGM Grand, as part of the undercard to stablemate Carl Frampton’s defeat at the hands of Leo Santa Cruz.

But the Edinburgh man, 26, will return to home comforts on March 24, exclusively live on Channel 5, when he defends his rainbow belt against Warren Joubert.

Taylor, who won the belt last October with a stoppage victory over Dave Ryan, comes up against the South African champion at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in his home city.

“I'm thrilled and excited to be back in Edinburgh at the Meadowbank,” Taylor told media at a conference to formally announce the fight on Wednesday.

“The bright lights of Vegas were a great experience but to be defending my title at home is great. I can't wait.”

Joubert (26-4-5, 11 KOs) is going into the fight on the back of a four-fight winning streak and was last in action last September.

The card is being promoted by Taylor’s mentor Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions company and is set to feature Jason Easton in a 10-round super-lightweight contest against game Hungarian Zoltan Szabo, with further additions to the bill –– which will be screened exclusively live on Spike TV –– to be revealed in due course.

“This is Josh's home,” said Taylor’s promoter McGuigan. “It's good for him to get experience in the USA but Edinburgh is where Josh needs to keep boxing.

“Warren Joubert is a very tough challenger and he will be coming to win [the night].”

In other news, Ryan Martin (7-0, 2 KOs) will take on Michael McKinson (10-0, 1 KO) for the vacant WBC Youth world welterweight title on April 8 at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon.

Elsewhere, Ben Hall will return to the ring, following his first defeat at the hands of Carson Jones last November, on March 17 at York Hall, as part of a card to be promoted by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing which will feature Jake Ball, Isaac Chamberlain, Reece Bellotti, Danny Dignum, Craig Richards and others.

And Boxing Scene understands that Paul Butler, the former IBF world bantamweight champion, will return to the ring on April 8 at Manchester Arena, exclusively live on BT Sport and BoxNation, as part of the supporting cast to Terry Flanagan’s WBO lightweight world title defence against Petr Petrov.