To understand modern British boxing, you have to start in a working-class neighbourhood of Sheffield. There, at the Wincobank Gym, Brendan Ingle turned raw talent into world champions — and one of those relationships, with Naseem Hamed, became as famous for its fracture as for its success.
Born: 19 June 1940 ·
Died: 25 May 2018 (aged 77) ·
World champions trained: 4 (Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Junior Witter, Kell Brook) ·
Net worth at death (estimated): £5 million – £10 million
Quick snapshot
- Brendan Ingle died on 25 May 2018 at age 77 (BBC News, UK public broadcaster)
- He trained four world champions: Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Junior Witter, Kell Brook (BBC News)
- Ingle and Hamed had a public, unresolved rift (Sky Sports, leading sports news outlet)
- Naseem Hamed did not attend Ingle’s funeral (Sky Sports)
- Exact net worth at death (estimates range £5 million–£10 million, no official figure) (BoxingScene, boxing news outlet)
- Precise cause of death (natural causes reported, not publicly detailed) (BBC News)
- Whether Ingle and Hamed ever spoke after the split (reports say they never spoke again) (Queensberry Promotions, Frank Warren’s blog)
- The full financial arrangement between Ingle and Hamed (reported 25% manager’s share, not officially confirmed) (BoxingScene)
- Born 19 June 1940 in Dublin, Ireland (Wikipedia, community encyclopedia)
- Opened Wincobank Gym in Sheffield in the 1970s (Wikipedia)
- Naseem Hamed wins WBO featherweight title under Ingle, 1995 (BBC News)
- Hamed splits with Ingle before the Barrera fight, 2001 (Sky Sports)
- Ingle dies on 25 May 2018 (BBC News)
- The rift between Ingle and Hamed remains a cautionary tale in boxing (Queensberry Promotions)
- Ingle’s training methods still influence British boxing (BBC News)
- Questions about the split continue to resurface in interviews and documentaries (DAZN, sports streaming service)
- Naseem Hamed has publicly called for Ingle’s Hall of Fame induction (Sky Sports)
Five key facts about Brendan Ingle’s life, each drawn from the most reliable sources.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Brendan Ingle |
| Birth | 19 June 1940, Dublin, Ireland |
| Death | 25 May 2018 (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Boxing trainer and manager |
| Notable Trainees | Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Junior Witter, Kell Brook |
What Happened to Brendan Ingle?
Brendan Ingle’s early life and boxing career
Ingle was born in Dublin on 19 June 1940 and moved to Sheffield as a young man (Wikipedia, community encyclopedia). He fought professionally in the 1960s, but his real impact came as a trainer. In the 1970s he opened the Wincobank Gym in a former boxing club, turning it into a factory for champions (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).
Ingle’s gift was spotting talent early. He took on Naseem Hamed at age seven, long before anyone else saw the future champion.
Cause of death and final years
Brendan Ingle died on 25 May 2018 at the age of 77. His cause of death was not publicly specified; it is believed to have been natural causes (BBC News). His funeral was held at Sheffield Cathedral on 14 June 2018, followed by cremation at City Road crematorium (Sky Sports, leading sports news outlet).
How Much Was Brendan Ingle Worth?
Brendan Ingle net worth at death
At the time of his death, Ingle’s net worth was estimated at between £5 million and £10 million (BoxingScene, boxing news outlet). He earned this through training fees, manager’s shares, and gym ownership. A 25% cut of Hamed’s earnings was reported as part of their agreement, though the exact numbers were never disclosed (BoxingScene).
Was Brendan Ingle a millionaire?
Yes. By the 1990s, when Hamed was selling out arenas and appearing on pay-per-view, Ingle was already a millionaire. The estimated £5–10 million range at his death confirms he remained wealthy. However, the exact figure is unverified, and some sources suggest the lower end of the range is more likely (DAZN, sports streaming service).
Ingle’s wealth came from the same fighter who later walked away from him — the money was always at the centre of the split.
How Many World Champions Did Brendan Ingle Train?
List of world champions trained by Brendan Ingle
- Naseem Hamed — WBO featherweight champion (1995–2000) (BBC News)
- Johnny Nelson — WBO cruiserweight champion (1999–2006) (BBC News)
- Junior Witter — WBC light-welterweight champion (2006–2008) (BBC News)
- Kell Brook — IBF welterweight champion (2014–2017) (BBC News)
Notable boxers from Wincobank Gym
Beyond the world champions, Ingle trained dozens of other professionals who competed at national and European level. The gym became a Sheffield institution, producing fighters known for their unorthodox, defensive style (Wikipedia).
Did Prince Naseem and Brendan Ingle Fall Out?
The split between Naseem Hamed and Brendan Ingle
Yes. The fallout began around 1998 and became final before Hamed’s 2001 fight against Marco Antonio Barrera. Hamed brought in trainers Oscar Suarez and Emanuel Steward instead of Ingle (Sky Sports). Frank Warren, the promoter, wrote that the split “did immeasurable damage to Hamed’s career” (Queensberry Promotions, Frank Warren’s blog).
Reasons for the rift
Financial disagreements were at the core. According to DAZN, “financial arrangements between Hamed and Ingle could not be agreed,” forcing the change (DAZN). Hamed later expressed regret, telling Sky Sports in 2026 that he wished he had handled things differently (Sky Sports). The two never spoke again after the split.
Hamed’s public regret came years after Ingle’s death. For the trainer’s family, the silence may have been the hardest part.
Did Naseem Hamed Attend Brendan Ingle’s Funeral?
Attendance of Naseem Hamed at the funeral
No. Naseem Hamed did not attend Brendan Ingle’s funeral on 14 June 2018 (Sky Sports). The absence confirmed that the rift had never healed.
Hamed’s relationship with Ingle after the split
According to Frank Warren, the pair “never spoke to each other again” after the initial split (Queensberry Promotions). In a 2026 interview, Hamed said he spent more time with Ingle than with his own family during his formative years and credited him for his success, but acknowledged the permanent break (Sky Sports).
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Brendan Ingle died on 25 May 2018 (BBC News)
- He trained four world champions (BBC News)
- Naseem Hamed did not attend his funeral (Sky Sports)
- Ingle and Hamed had a public, unresolved rift (Sky Sports)
What remains unclear
- Exact net worth at death (estimated £5–10 million, not confirmed) (BoxingScene)
- Cause of death (natural causes presumed, not officially detailed) (BBC News)
- Whether Ingle and Hamed ever spoke after the split (reports say never, but not from Ingle’s side) (Queensberry Promotions)
- Full financial details of the Ingle-Hamed arrangement (reported 25% share, not official) (BoxingScene)
Key quotes
“I spent more time with Brendan Ingle than I did with my own family. I wouldn’t have achieved what I did in boxing without him.”
— Naseem Hamed, Sky Sports interview
“Brendan was a fight guru who put Sheffield on the map. The split did immeasurable damage to Hamed’s career.”
— Frank Warren, Queensberry Promotions blog
For the boxing community, the Ingle–Hamed story is a parable of loyalty and money. The trainer who built a world champion from scratch lost him to a contract dispute, and neither man ever recovered from the fracture. For British boxing’s next generation, the lesson is clear: the bond between a fighter and his trainer is fragile, and when it breaks, the damage is permanent.
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The Irish-born trainer was known for his unconventional methods, which ultimately led to the bitter split with Naseem Hamed that left the boxing world stunned.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Brendan Ingle?
Brendan Ingle was an Irish-born boxing trainer and manager based in Sheffield, England. He trained four world champions, including Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Junior Witter, and Kell Brook (Wikipedia).
What was Brendan Ingle’s cause of death?
His cause of death was not publicly specified. It is believed to be natural causes (BBC News).
What is the Brendan Ingle book about?
There is a book titled “Giants” that examines the relationship between Ingle and Naseem Hamed, focusing on their rise and eventual split (BoxingScene).
Did Brendan Ingle train any other famous boxers?
Yes, he trained many professional boxers, but the most famous are the four world champions: Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Junior Witter, and Kell Brook (BBC News).
Why did Naseem Hamed and Brendan Ingle fall out?
They fell out due to financial disagreements. Hamed changed trainers before his 2001 fight against Marco Antonio Barrera, and the two never spoke again (Sky Sports).
Is Prince Naseem still a millionaire?
Yes, Naseem Hamed is still a millionaire, with an estimated net worth of around £40 million at his peak (BoxingScene).
Where was Brendan Ingle from?
He was born in Dublin, Ireland, and later moved to Sheffield, England, where he spent most of his life (Wikipedia).
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Richard Vane is Senior Reporter at MorningTimes.uk, covering breaking UK news stories across politics, business and public affairs.