Monday 11 June 2018 17:24, UK
Adam Smith pays tribute to Brendan Ingle, the man behind the sensational Wincobank success, who sadly passed away on Friday.
Brendan Ingle was one of the most instrumental figures in boxing history.
Born on June 19, 1940, the Irish manager and former fighter guided four world, six European, 15 British and six Commonwealth champions, to become one of the most successful trainers to ever grace the sport.
Ingle mentored and trained Herol 'Bomber' Graham, Prince Naseem Hamed and of course' our own world cruiserweight king Johnny Nelson.
Brendan was based on Sheffield's Wincobank Hill and after a professional record of 19 wins and 14 losses, he was asked by a local vicar to help the community because youth in the area were running wild.
A weekly dance was held at St Thomas' church hall and the boxing gym St Thomas' Boys & Girls Club was opened.
Everyone was welcome - and Brendan brought in an unusual style of boxing based on footwork - working in lines and circles, reflexes and switch stances for unorthodox movement and power.
This defensive wizardry meant many came out of their careers without a mark on them, while at the same time he believed strongly in the mental side, building confidence with bizarre exercises like singing nursery rhymes in the ring.
Although mocked by some in the trade, Ingle's ways proved so vital and so successful. Brendan worked wonders with the young in Sheffield, offering them a different path.
Along with his wife, Alma, and sons John and Dominic, who were heavily involved in the training side, Brendan developed a conveyor belt of stars. Yet even journeymen fighters had a career, a life, friendship and hope under Brendan's regime.
He took no prisoners but rewarded hard work and loyalty. He would take them to shows all over the country, and to many he was more of a father figure than a trainer.
When we started boxing at Sky in the 1990s, I spent half of my weeks up in Sheffield, when his stable was the envy of the world. Naz, Johnny, Ryan Rhodes, Junior Witter, Esham Pickering, Clifton Mitchell, Kevin Adamson, Jon Thaxton, Pele Reid, Dave Coldwell and even Herbie Hide. It was an amazing buzz and success bred success.
Brendan also gained an honorary doctorate, lecturing at Sheffield Hallam University and was awarded an MBE in 1998.
Brendan always lived over the road from the gym, was the first to open up in the early hours of the morning, and the last to close it at night. It was his whole life and he will be sorely missed by all of us in the boxing world who were touched by his magic.
He leaves a large and loving family behind. Brendan Ingle will never be forgotten.