KIERAN Gething couldn’t help but feel a mixture of emotions after making his debut in boxing’s paid ranks.

The 22-year-old believed he had done enough to start his professional career with a win against Kevin McCauley last Friday.

But the referee thought otherwise and declared the four-round light-middleweight contest in Weston-super-Mare a draw.

Abergavenny-born Gething, cornermen Jimmy Bromfield and John Kaigan, and the fighter’s supporters were left perplexed by the official’s decision.

But although disappointed with the outcome, Gething, who trains out of Pontypool Boxing Club, enjoyed the occasion in Somerset – and he can’t wait to get back in the ring.

“It was a good experience and I was happy with my performance, I boxed exactly to plan,” he said.

“My two cornermen had 60 years of boxing experience between them so I couldn’t have had a better corner to start off with.

“And it’s great when someone like Jimmy Bromfield tells you how professional you have gone about things on your debut.

“The promoter of the show, Stuart Davies, thought I was probably the best boxer on the night and I should have won.”

On the fight and result, he added: “Dale Evans (British and Commonwealth title challenger) said to me that no matter what his record said, the guy I was fighting wasn’t going to be a walkover.

“He caught me once or twice but he had a big cut down his face, and I thought I out-boxed him in every way.

“After the fight my corner and I were celebrating before the decision had been announced, and even my opponent was clapping, I think he thought he had lost.

“I thought it was a very controversial decision and it definitely wasn’t the one I wanted.

“To say the decision took me aback was an understatement, but that’s what happens sometimes and I’m just looking to push on to the next fight.

“People came up to me afterwards, shook my hand and said they thought I had won.”

Gething, who is managed by Paul Boyce, could be back in action next month, but if not then he will be looking at a show early in the new year.