Draft:Kieran Gething

Kieran Gething

Kieran Gething (born 1994) is a Welsh professional boxer, writer, and entrepreneur. He has held various national titles in both his amateur and professional boxing careers and is involved in several business ventures, including running a boxing gym and writing books. Gething has also expressed interest in Welsh politics, particularly in advocating for Welsh independence.

Boxing

Amateur career and coaches

Gething started boxing aged 12. His brother attended Pontypool Boxing Club and first and claimed to have an altercation with travellers at the gym. When Kieran then attended he continued his career with his brother retiring at 16 and heading into a successful coaching career as a member of the historic welsh commonwealth team that received their best ever medal haul in 2022. Kieran went on to win 5 national titles as an amateur, also gaining a silver and bronze medal in various age groups at British championships and winning a silver medal in Macedonia’s Golden Gong tournament. After also getting the honour of captaining Wales for 2 and a half years, with Gething claiming “this to be some of the proudest moments of my boxing career”. Gething captained Wales internationally a number of times, winning over 12 national vests and defeating England in ties between the countries twice. He finished his amateur career with 55 fights and 35 wins. Boxing at a continually high level after winning his first welsh vest in just his fifth fight. in Pontypool Boxing Club Gething was coached by Mark ‘Archie’ James and Lyndon James, brothers form Cwmbran that boxed themselves. He also had his father Gary Gething in his corner for most of his time as an amateur, until Gary’s death in 2014. Gething grants the James brothers with a lot of his success and states how their coaching has shaped his whole style while boxing and while coaching. When Gething left Pontypool ABC as a professional and after winning junior, youth, senior and professional titles with the club he joined Tony Borg at St. Joseph’s Newport, for a time before boxing out of Abergavenny Boxing club, under his friend and long time cornerman Tom Stone.

Paul Boyce - Rough start

Kieran signed as a professional with long time boxing manager Paul Boyce. After many years Boyce was coming to an end of his time in management and he did not promote his own shows while Gething was still signed with him. Gething had his debut in Weston super Mare against Kevin McAuley, who was having his 150th pro bout. The draw did not meet expectations for the start of Gething’s career. He then took a bout on short notice against Bristol’s Aaron Sutton on Sanigar Promotions event in Bristol Football Arena. After a loss in the away corner by a score of 39-38 to Sutton while he suffered 19 stitches and six months out of the ring. Gething then made his welsh debut as a professional in Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. He had the first win of his career, a stoppage at super middleweight. After this initial win Gething and Boyce decided to part ways and Boyce called time on his career.

Jamie Arthur - Building to belts

Subsequently, Gething signed with former commonwealth professional champion Jamie Arthur who promised Gething the title fights that he had targeted. During this time Gething was scheduled to box Tony Dixon for a welsh welterweight title on S4C. This fight fell through and the opponent was changed to former British and commonwealth champion Bradley Pryce. Gething completed a good boxing display and won the bout clearly calling out Dixon in the post fight interview and thanking Pryce for his great career. After a number of other wins in this time Arthur looked to deliver on getting Gething the welsh title he wanted against Chris Jenkins. When this fight fell through Gething and Arthur then ended their contract as Gething looked to finally move on.

Lee Eaton - Golden Contract

Gething’s next management team was MTK Global, a large rising name in the professional boxing scene. Gething’s first fight with MTK was the re-scheduled Dixon bout. This ended up as the Welsh Area’s Fight of the Year for which Getting and Dixon received awards at the annual awards dinner, alongside HOF inductee Enzo Maccarinelli and Boxer of the year Liam Williams. A loss for Gething in his first title tilt, the score was returned 96-95 Dixon after a 4th round flash knockdown. In Gething’s next bout he dropped to 140lb and won the super lightweight title against experienced and in-form Henry Janes. A previous welsh title challenger from the travelling community. Gething won this comprehensively and then became the first person to defend a welsh title in over 10 years against Craig Woodruff on a MTK bill headlined by Jay Harris, winning the EBU title in Cardiff Vale Sports Arena. This win led Gething on to the ‘Golden Contract’ A tournament scheduled by MTK Global and held in the historic York Hall, Bethnel Green. Gething was scheduled to box Benson after picking him in the game format of the tournament. When Benson returned a problem with his medical the opponent was changed late to Jeff Ofori who came off a big win for himself a week previous in the away corner in Liverpool. This bout returned a draw on the scorecards, but referee Kieran McCann decided that Ofori did enough to warrant being put through to the next round and Gething losing out. With injuries and Covid-19 playing a part in slowing down Gething’s career, fights lined up against Darren Surtees, Gary Cully and others fell at the wayside. After returning form injury and some more wins helping Gething to get back on track for the step up he had publicly called for MTK Global came into controversy and left Gething with the choice of sticking with his then manger Lee Eaton or to leave and put himself into another route.

Mo Prior - Richie Garner and topping the bill

After decided to leave Eaton, Gething signed with long term friend and promoter Mark ‘Mo’ Prior, with a heavy amount of personal control in his management, advised by friend and lawyer Richard Garner. With Gething’s confidence renewed and new team this began giving him the opportunities he has asked for. This new outfit looked to promote Gething in his hometown of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. Where the likes of Randy Turpin had boxed decades before. For the first time in over 60 years Gething headlined a show in Abergavenny Market Hall. He was originally scheduled to box Sion Yaxley but when the BBBofC rejected a title sanction, that bout was pushed back and Gething fought Paul Cummings for the BUI middleweight Celtic title instead. After a shutout win and a quick turnaround, the board then approved a request for their Celtic title and the IBO gave sanction of their continental title to the Gething vs Yaxley fight. After a large build up in a well promoted and published event in Wales, Gething vs Yaxley took place on July 1st 2023. With world title winners in each of the boxers corners (Gavin Rees and Anthony Crolla, respectively) and some in the crowd (Joe Cordina), the event was a big success. Though Gething lost he did shake up the 12-0 Yaxley multiple times in the fight, but Yaxley optioned to use the size of the usually large ring (22ft) and won on points.

After more injury trouble fights with London’s Asinia Byfield and Ireland’s Dominic Donegan were cancelled. Gething has now been scheduled to box Ireland’s Celtic title winner, Graham McCormack for the super middleweight BBBofC title. This Fight initially was pencilled for late 2023 but is now due to be held early in 2024.

Books -

Insight

At 25 years old Gething self published his first book, Insight, a process which took a matter of weeks and documented the month prior to his SKY Sports co-main event bout on MTK’s Golden Contract. Gething has claimed the book was something for him personally and not really bothered by commercial success. However, it has been reviewed on the AMAZON platform multiple times and cited as ‘inspiring’ by many.

Insight further

As of 2021 Getting has described this book as being in development and has also slated a 2024 release date. The basis of the book being a reflection of the last five years of his life and career and to give a deeper understanding of professional boxing careers in general and a commentary on his personal life in this time.

Other works

Gething has claimed to have two more authored projects being worked on, a novel and a third book in the Insight series.

Business -

Production, acting and directing

Gething Productions was started with the hope of filming professional and amateur boxing in Wales and publishing directly on Youtube through ‘Boxing In Wales’ which was previously Gething’s personal account and shows his amateur and professional career bouts. Gething was able to build a relationship with KOTV who have a weekly round up show from boxing globally and from this Gething has director’s credits internationally for his footage sent from some of the amateur boxing filmed from around Wales. Gething has appeared in a handful of advertisements online for some retailers and has expressed a desire to go into further acting in tv and film if the opportunity comes. A monthly show produced and directed by Gething called ‘Boxing in Wales’ the name from which the channel comes, has been a favourite on the welsh boxing scene with further episodes to be aired in 2024. Presented by well respected welsh boxing historian and pundit Dewi Powell and close friend and advisor to Gething, Richie Garner.

Construction, rise and fall

After the death of Gary Gething, Kieran’s father, in 2014. Gething expressed the desire to start a company using the trading name of his father as a self employed plumber. During 2020 Gething began trading as G. Gething & Sons and took the company limited in 2021. Gething had a number of employees in this time and starting out in woodwork, ended up signing contracts for large renovation projects. G. Gething & Sons was valued around £300,000 in early 2023. Largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Gethings’ business dealings dropped and the company was taken into insolvency in early 2024.

Retail, starting plans and current model

Gething Sports began in 2021 and was situated as a retail store in the town centre of Pontypool, Wales. The business benefitted from Gething’s sponsorship connections and has been trading since opening. The shift in direction of the retail model changed when Gething opened ‘Abergavenny Amateur Boxing Club’ in 2022. He then moved his stock and trading address to align with the gym. Gething now is the only official partner of world renowned Cleto Reyes in Wales. He has helped multiple amateur boxing clubs receive grants from Reyes and Sport Wales. Also being part of the inaugural ‘Gilberto Reyes Grants’ which help deliver discounts on quality equipment to community gyms.

Boxing Gym and Charity work

Abergavenny Boxing Club was opened in 2022 with the help of the club secretary, Kevin Hudson, coach and brother Connor Gething, the Welsh ABA and head coach of the club Tom Stone, who also is a previous cornerman and head physio for Gething in his professional career. With over 20 active members of the club, Gething was awarded ’Sports Club of the Year’ by Monmouthshire County Council and G.A.V.O. for his volunteer work and the successful launch of Abergavenny ABC as well as his help in Monmouthshire schools and Abergavenny town events to promote the benefits from the sport of boxing.

Politics -

Propel

While living in Pontypool, Gething ran in a local election with the party known as Propel, headed by former Senedd member Neil McAvoy. Gething had hoped to be a part of the independence movement but a poor run of results for the party left it, and McAvoy, in limbo.

Push for independence

Gething has a long held belief of strength in welsh independence and has publicly stated how he believes the evidence is there for a sustainable Wales. In other more local politics Gething has expressed wanting to become part of the town council in his area and to hopefully become mayor one day, to really be involved with aiding the wider community where he lives.

Family life -

Father and boxing history

Gething comes from a line of boxers dating back to the start of the Queensbury rules. Beginning with Thomas Gething, believed to be a mountain fighter in the Welsh valleys, He was the father of Daniel Gething, who boxed professionally in the same market hall as his great grandson would years later. Daniel was then father to Glyn Gething who fought in the army during national service and won service a championship at welterweight. Kieran’s other grandfather, Albert Stockham, was also an accomplished boxer. Glyn was father to Gary Gething who won 6 WABA titles and also boxed professionally. Glyn had 6 sons. 4 of which boxed and won titles. Alex, Connor and Kieran won titles after them and Lewys Gething, second cousin to Kieran, also won a senior novice championship in Wales.

Marriage and children

Kieran met Emma Louise Williams at 18 years old and they married in 2017. They have 4 children from their marriage. Isla Rose Gething (2017), Iris Grace Gething (2018), Elias Gary Gething (2022) and Isaac Kieran Malcolm Gething (2023). The latter sharing a name with Emma’s father as well as Kieran’s own name.

Personal life -

Early childhood

Kieran Glyn Gething was born with congenital talipes in 1994. After a successful operation at 5 months old Kieran had no physical problems until 14 years old when he had to begin to modify his training regime to mitigate pain. He has an older sister, Danielle Louise Gething (1986) and younger brother Connor Gary Gething (1995). His mother is Pauline Veronica Gething (nee O’Brien) born 1963 and Gary James Gething born 1959. Kieran was a victim of some serious bullying as a youth but claims that boxing helped him to change his situation and grant it with saving is childhood. Though giving additional physical problems at the end of his career when suffering with Arthritis in his hands.

Apprenticeship and schooling

Gething left St. Albans high school, Pontypool in 2010. He left home to live in accomodation in Birmingham and Leeds and completed a 4 year apprenticeship in welding and fabrication with Doosan Babcock in 2014. In 2023 he started higher education and is currently a psychology student in Arden university.

References

Sky Sportshttps://www.skysports.com › newsThe Golden Contract: Kieran Gething and Mikey Sakyi are late entrants

https://www.abergavennychronicle.com/sport/in-the-name-of-the-father-73726

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/780239

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Contract?wprov=sfti1#Featherweight

Timber Mediahttps://www.timbermedia.co.uk › ...Welsh boxing champion Kieran Gething gets timber support

NY Fightsnyfights.comNYF Prospect Watch: Wales Super Welterweight Kieran Gething - NY ...

South Wales Argushttps://www.southwalesargus.co.uk › ...Kieran Gething vows to take rival Tony Dixon apart in Welsh title scrap

Kieran Gething v Tony Dixon | Pwy fydd pencampwr pwysau welter Cymru ar ...Facebook · S4C Chwaraeon26 Oct 2018

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Arthur?wprov=sfti1#Commonwealth_title_and_retirement

Insight https://amzn.eu/d/a8Emk0A

fight-scene.comhttp://fight-scene.com › kieran-geth...Kieran Gething - Fight Scene

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Cully?wprov=sfti1

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/16889621.big-year-ahead-kieran-gething-new-management-group/

Sky Sportshttps://www.skysports.com › newsThe Golden Contract: The lowdown on tonight's super-lightweight quarter ...

https://www.everand.com/article/658180032/Too-Much-To-Do

https://www.facebook.com/share/5eaahEu3dqHjbNAi/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Insight https://amzn.eu/d/a8Emk0A

The Fight Libraryhttps://fight-library.com › book-re...Book Review: “Insight” By Kieran Gething

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/18426741.gething-gives-insight-life-ring-boxing-book/

https://fight-library.com/2020/08/13/kieran-gething-wales-hidden-gem/?amp=1

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gF8t9zcRBNC1Fe1UVMVGg?si=p4_QdnohQs2y-M_5dW00tg

https://youtu.be/6IXHz2mKV1I?si=OfNSnyLEHTderWeI

Facebook · Fix Radio2 reactions  ·  3 years agoKieran Gething Running His Building Company | Ever wanted to run a ...

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/10994422.tributes-paid-to-pontypool-boxing-coach-gary-gething/

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/nu3m0AKzAhlZ4cSjUAfKh86vml8/appointments

Professional Builderhttps://probuildermag.co.uk › kier...Kieran Gething (2)

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/nu3m0AKzAhlZ4cSjUAfKh86vml8/appointments

The Timeshttps://www.thetimes.com › articleKell Brook's troubled start to retirement shows boxing's painful reality

https://www.abergavennychronicle.com/news/celebrations-as-top-fighter-opens-new-boxing-gym-543251

https://www.gavo.org.uk/post/monmouthshire-volunteers-celebrated-at-gavo-awards-evening

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/17458663.boxing-champion-kieran-gething-nominated-south-wales-argus-sports-awards/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Wales_East_(Senedd_electoral_region)?wprov=sfti1#2021_Senedd_election

yesismore.cymruhttps://yesismore.cymru › artistsKieran Gething - Yes is more | 55 Voices for Independence

BBChttps://www.bbc.co.uk › sport › b...Kieran Gething: A boxing career blighted by tragedy

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p070ckbh

Welsh Champion Kieran Gething on boxing family, self belief & writing his first ...YouTube · Fight Connect TV24 Apr 2020

“BOXING IS IN THE BLOOD” Kieran Gething Boxing InterviewYouTube · The Puncher's Chance Podcast11 Apr 2024

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/10994422.tributes-paid-to-pontypool-boxing-coach-gary-gething/

Facebook · Kieran Gething110+ reactions  ·  2 years agoKieran Gething - My wonderful wife has this great habit of...

Boxing News Magazinehttps://boxingnewsonline.net › ive-...'I've never let my condition hold me back.' Kieran Gething on his triumph over ...