ABERGAVENNY boxer Kieran Gething will be hunting titles when he recovers from a pair of freak injuries that have left him unable to pack a punch.

The 25-year-old (10-2-2) was last in action in a controversial defeat to Londoner Jeff Ofori last November in the MTK Golden Contract super-lightweight tournament.

The three judges were split at ringside and the 10-round quarter-final contest was scored as a draw, leading to referee Kieran McCann picking the Englishman to go through to the last four.

"We weren't really happy with that decision but you have to accept these things in boxing," said Gething, who trains in Pontypool.

"It would have been brilliant if I had made it through to the semis, I would have like to have gone against Tyrone McKenna for an international title.

"I'd have loved to have got into a big profile fight, it was fantastic being on Sky Sports though, just a different atmosphere, more professional, and a completely different level."

South Wales Argus:

Gething had a busy 2019 featuring four fights, one over six rounds and the rest over 10.

He won the Welsh Area super-lightweight belt against Henry Janes in Newport at the start of the year then enjoyed a pair of successes in Cardiff against Damian Esquisabel and Craig Woodruff.

After racking up 36 valuable rounds in 2019, Gething had hoped to push on this year only to suffer injury misfortune.

"I was due to fight Darren Surtees, but then tore ligaments and cartilage in my elbow and then I got a labrum injury on my shoulder," he said.

"I'm waiting on an MRI scan but have only just started doing some tension exercises to hopefully strengthen the joints.

"I did my elbow swinging a sledgehammer in the gym and my shoulder went was when I was playing squash.

"I still can't punch at the moment, without the MRI scan results I have to be tentative, I'm going to try a session but if it hurts then I won't bother continuing (for the moment)."

South Wales Argus:

But the target – lockdown permitting – is a summer comeback.

"I'll look forward to fighting Darren Surtees, either him or another title fight," said Gething.

"Money is secondary, it's just about titles. I wanted to fight for the Celtic title and I'm ranked 13th in Britain so should be eligible for a few title fights, I've just got to wait to see."

Gething is itching to get back in the ring and also wants to put boxing on the map in his hometown.

"I've really got a big ambition to put boxing on in my town, Abergavenny," he said.

"After I defended my title in June last year, I deserved a Commonwealth title fight and wanted to bring that back but I know that MTK and Mo Prior have got a big show planned in June, so I would like to think I could get on it."