KIERAN Gething will be out to claim a first professional title next month, and he knows that victory would put him in pole position for a crack at the Lonsdale Belt, writes David Williams.

The Llandarcy Academy of Sport near Neath hosts Gething’s showdown with Newcastle’s Basi Razaq for the British Challenge Belt on Saturday, August 11.

Pontypool welterweight Gething (5-1-1), 24, has lost just one of his seven contests in the paid code, as has 26-year-old Razaq (7-1-1), who has fought two more bouts than the Welshman.

Both men will be aware that a lot more than the British Challenge Belt is going to be on the line when they go toe-to-toe in a month’s time.

“We got put together by a matchmaker from Newcastle and they are trying to make it an eliminator for the British title,” said Gething. “We should find out on Thursday.

“We’ve both got positive records and are close in the rankings, and I don’t want to keep fighting journeymen.

“With him it’s not going to be a case of someone coming down to pick up a payslip, we’ll both be trying to win.

“We are both in the prime of life and I think our styles will gel well – he’s got a big right hand but isn’t going to catch me with it.”

On the belt he will be challenging for, he added: “It has replaced the British Masters title.

“Anyone can apply to fight for it but it has still got to be sanctioned by the BBBoC, the same with any belt.

“The thing about this belt is that you don’t defend it but win it and it boosts your ranking.

“Even if it isn’t an eliminator for the British title it will still put me in a good position going forward.

“It means I could be a voluntary defence for someone or I could be eligible to fight an eliminator if I win.”

Gething’s last fight saw him comfortably outpoint veteran Bradley Pryce at Ice Arena Wales in April.

Razaq, who turns 27 two days before the showdown, hasn't been in the ring since last September when he beat Sheffield's Dan West on points over six rounds.

His only defeat came against Lithuanian Evaldas Korsakas in November 2015, while he also drew with journeyman William Warburton nine months earlier.