Brendan Ingle

Brendan Ingle (born 19 June 1940 in Dublin, Ireland) is a former professional boxer and a boxing manager and trainer. Brendan Ingle was born into a large family (he has 14 brothers and sisters).

He had a professional record of 17 wins and 12 losses.

While living in Wincobank, Brendan 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.

"All the nutcases around Wincobank were coming in. After the Sunday dance people would turn out on to the street and start fighting down Newman Road. So after 11pm we'd lock the doors, I'd fetch the gloves out, which thinking about it now was crazy. I would referee. The girls could fight better than the lads! But nobody ever got hurt."

He is currently a boxing manager and trainer to great success stories. 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 Prince Naseem Hamed's mentor from the age of 7 to 25. He has also trained former IBF Light Heavyweight titlist Clinton Woods and is the current trainer of former WBC Light Welterweight titlist Junior Witter. He also was trainer to former WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson. He lives in Wincobank, Sheffield, just across the road from his gym, St Thomas' Boys and Girls Club.

In total he has trained four world champions, six European, 15 British and six Commonwealth champions. This makes him one of the most successful trainers to ever grace the sport.

Ingle's fighters relied on footwork and reflexes for defence, leaving the hands free for offensive activity. In accordance with Ingle's doctrine, stance was optimised to provide leverage for punches and the unorthodox defence posture left the hands free for powerful punching from a wide variety of often unusual angles. This significantly increased tactical options for Ingle-trained boxers while reducing the scope for the opposing fighters to anticipate attacks.

He also has an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University, he has also lectured at Sheffield Hallam University. 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. 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.