Joubert stopped in failed junior-welterweight title bid

Cape Town - Scotland’s Josh Taylor stopped South African junior-welterweight champion Warren Joubert in the sixth round to retain his Commonwealth junior-welterweight title at the Meadowbank Arena in Edinburgh on Friday night.

However, Taylor had to come back from a cut eye in the first round against the gutsy Joubert before a big left hand stunned the South African.

Referee Victor Loughlin had to step in and wave the fight off at one minute 27 seconds into the sixth round.

Thanks to good corner work by Taylor’s corner the cut eye was not a factor as he was made to work hard by Joubert before the stoppage.

Taylor, a Commonwealth gold medallist, improved his record to 9-0 with 8 stoppages and Joubert’s record dropped to 26-5-5 (11 stoppages).

Taylor now hopes to challenge WBA junior-welterweight champion Ricky Burns in an all-Scottish showdown.

Burns is scheduled to meet IBF and IBO champion Julian Ndongo in a unification match on April 15 at the SS Hydro in Glasgow.