Brendan Ingle

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Brendan Ingle
MBE
Born(1940-06-19)19 June 1940
Dublin, Ireland
Died25 May 2018(2018-05-25) (aged 77)
Sheffield, England
Known forTraining Johnny Nelson, Naseem Hamed, Junior Witter, Kell Brook, Kid Galahad
Relatives
Boxing career
Weight Middleweight
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights33
Wins19
Win by KO6
Losses14
The boxing glove statue dedicated to Ingle in Wincobank, Sheffield Brendan Ingle's Boxing Gloves Statue - geograph.org.uk - 4281532.jpg
The boxing glove statue dedicated to Ingle in Wincobank, Sheffield

Brendan Ingle MBE (19 June 1940 – 25 May 2018) [1] was an Irish boxing trainer, manager, and former professional boxer based in Sheffield, England. He trained five world champions in total at his Wincobank gym, including Johnny Nelson, "Prince" Naseem Hamed, Junior Witter, Kell Brook, and Kid Galahad. [2]

Contents

Early life

Ingle was born in the Ringsend area of Dublin in 1940. He was one of 16 children of dock labourer Charlie (‘Hoppy’) Ingle and Sarah Ingle (née Lawless). [3]

Professional career

Ingle competed professionally as a middleweight from 1965 to 1973, with a record of 19 wins and 14 losses. [4] He unsuccessfully fought for the BBofC Central Area Middleweight title in October 1973 against Pat Dwyer. [4]

Training career

While living in Wincobank, Sheffield, England, Ingle was asked by a local vicar to carry out some community work because youth in the area were "running wild." He knew nothing but boxing, but he organised a weekly dance at St Thomas' church hall and the boxing gym St Thomas' Boys & Girls Club was opened.

Herol "Bomber" Graham, undefeated in ten years is what Ingle would call "the best person to come out of our gym," although perhaps Ingle is best known for being Naseem Hamed's mentor from the age of seven to 25. He has also trained former IBF Light Heavyweight titlist Clinton Woods and was the trainer of former WBC Light Welterweight titlist Junior Witter. He also was trainer of former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson. He lived in Wincobank, Sheffield, just across the road from his gym, St Thomas' Boys and Girls Club.[ citation needed ]

In total he has trained four world champions, six European, 15 British, and six Commonwealth champions.[ citation needed ] Ingle's fighters relied on footwork and reflexes for defence, leaving the hands free for offensive activity.[ citation needed ]

Honours

Ingle was awarded an MBE in 1998 for his services and contributions to British boxing and his work with young people in the Sheffield area. [5]

He received an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University.

Personal life

Brendan's sons, Dominic and John, both run the Ingle Gym their father established. [6]

Ingle's eldest brother, Jimmy, was a famous Irish champion boxer. [3] His niece is Róisín Ingle, The Irish Times journalist. [3] He was also great-uncle of The Guardian sports journalist Sean Ingle. [2]

In August 2014, Ingle was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue. [7]

Death

Ingle died in May 2018 due to a brain hemorrhage at the age of 77. Upon his death, former student Johnny Nelson paid tribute to Ingle as "the best trainer in the world". [8]

Media portrayal

Ingle is played by Pierce Brosnan in the 2025 film Giant, about the relationship between him and Naseem Hamed. [2]

Professional boxing record

33 fights19 wins14 losses
By knockout68
By decision134
By disqualification02
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
33Loss19–14 Poul Knudsen KO3 (6)1 Nov 1973 K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
32Loss19–13 Pat Dwyer PTS1021 Oct 1973Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, EnglandFor Central Area middleweight title
31Win19–12Joe GregoryKO3 (8)3 Jul 1973Burlington Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
30Win18–12Dave NelsonPTS614 May 1973Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, England
29Win17–12Mick HusseyPTS830 Apr 1973Premier Sporting Club, London, England
28Win16–12Charlie SmallPTS86 Mar 1973Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, England
27Loss15–12Charlie SmallTKO5 (6)29 Jan 1973Great International Sporting Club, Nottingham, England
26Win15–11Billy BrooksPTS615 Jan 1973Premier Sporting Club, London, England
25Win14–11Peter MullinsKO4 (6)8 Jan 1973National Sporting Club, London, England
24Loss13–11Johnny WallPTS624 Apr 1972County Hotel, Bedford, England
23Loss13–10Fred PowneyTKO2 (8)13 Apr 1970Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, England
22Loss13–9Tom JensenPTS62 Apr 1970 Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Aarhus, Denmark
21Loss13–8 Chris Finnegan TKO8 (8), 1:455 Aug 1969Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, England
20Loss13–7Ronnie HoughTKO3 (8)2 Jul 1969Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales
19Win13–6Dervan AireyPTS819 May 1969Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, England
18Loss12–6Liam DolanDQ3 (8)26 Mar 1969Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, England
17Loss12–5Ronnie HoughTKO2 (8)6 Feb 1969 The Stadium, Liverpool, England
16Win12–4Danny AshiePTS42 Jan 1969 National Sporting Club, London, England
15Win11–4Don ReidPTS625 Nov 1968Broadway Sporting Club, Manchester, England
14Win10–4Brian BonsorTKO6 (8)4 Nov 1968Gosforth Park Hotel, Newcastle, England
13Win9–4Maurice ThomasPTS61 Oct 1968Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
12Loss8–4Danny AshieTKO6 (8)18 Jul 1968Olympic Ballroom, Dublin, Ireland
11Win8–3Danny AshiePTS622 Apr 1968 Grosvenor House, London, England
10Loss7–3Mick CainDQ5 (6)8 Apr 1968Hilton Hotel, London, England
9Win7–2Peter LanePTS62 Apr 1968Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
8Win6–2Chris McAuleyPTS627 Feb 1968Fiesta Ballroom, Belfast, Northern Ireland
7Loss5–2Liam DolanPTS611 Dec 1967Piccadilly Hotel, Manchester, England
6Win5–1Dave DerbyshirePTS610 Oct 1966Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England
5Loss4–1Willie TurkingtonTKO1 (6)8 Feb 1966 Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
4Win4–0Wesley WilliamsTKO4 (6)21 Dec 1965Town Hall, Leeds, England
3Win3–0Dave DerbyshireTKO4 (6)15 Nov 1965Wyvern Sporting Club, Manchester, England
2Win2–0Miles MittonTKO4 (6)1 Nov 1965Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England
1Win1–0Dick GriffithsPTS64 Oct 1965 Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England

References

  1. ↑ "Brendan Ingle: World champion boxing trainer dies aged 77". BBC Sport. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Ingle, Sean (13 January 2026). "Watching James Bond play my great uncle Brendan in Giant was surreal and spooky". theguardian.com .
  3. 1 2 3 "Ingle, James John ('Jimmy')". Dictionary of Irish Biography. May 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  4. 1 2 "BoxRec: Brendan Ingle". boxrec.com. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "No. 55354". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1998. p. 18.
  6. ↑ "Boxing has lost a legend". The Guardian. 25 May 2018.
  7. ↑ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories | Politics". The Guardian. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Brendan Ingle: World champion boxing trainer dies aged 77". BBC Sport. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
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