Former world champion boxer Prince Naseem Hamed has reopened a bitter and long-running dispute with his late trainer, Brendan Ingle, accusing him of brainwashing him as a child over a contentious financial agreement.
A Deal Made at Eleven
Hamed, who is widely regarded as one of Britain's greatest-ever fighters, rose to fame under Ingle's guidance at the renowned Sheffield gym. He first walked into the gym as a seven-year-old, dazzling the Irish trainer with his raw talent. However, the relationship was later poisoned by a deal struck when Hamed was just 11 years old.
According to Hamed, Ingle promised to help him earn £40 million over his career, but in return demanded a 25 per cent cut of his earnings. "He did a deal with me at the age of 11," Hamed stated. "How can you shake a kid’s hand and say you owe me that? Brendan would call me his meal ticket."
Failed Attempts at Reconciliation
The feud persisted for years and was never resolved before Ingle's death in 2018. Hamed claims he made numerous efforts to make amends, reaching out through Ingle's family and friends, but was met with rejection.
"I tried for years to reach out to him and claw back, to sit down and just quash it," Hamed revealed. His attempts extended to Ingle's funeral, where he says one of the trainer's daughters sent him a hostile message, making the family's position clear. "Once I got that message, everything was clear... It was all about money, that's the sad thing with Brendan."
Credit Given Elsewhere
While his professional peak saw him crowned WBO featherweight world champion in 1995 after knocking out Steve Robinson in Cardiff, Hamed now insists Ingle deserves little credit for his success. He points instead to Ingle's son, John Ingle, as the true architect of his ring craft.
"The person who trained me, and who should get all of the recognition for doing most of the work, is Brendan’s son John," Hamed added. "He hardly got anything and nobody talks about him."
Hamed's career effectively ended after a points defeat to Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas in 2001, with just one more fight before retirement. The release of a new film, Giant, which tells the story from Brendan Ingle's perspective, has prompted Hamed to finally speak his truth. "I've had a break and stayed quiet," he said, "but this is my time to tell the truth."
