As a young reporter at Sky, Smith had a front row seat to the spectacular fallout between Naseem Hamed and Brendan Ingle, the central characters of the film that was released earlier this month starring Pierce Brosnan as the enigmatic Irishman. 

The former James Bond’s transition into Ingle, one of the movie’s big successes, sees Brosnan apply plenty of passion to the role, a major feature of the trainer who took Hamed from a bullied schoolboy to world champion. 

Their journey started at the now famous Winconbank gym in Sheffield, but it would end in a bitter split when financial arrangements between the pair could not be agreed forcing Hamed to bring in Oscar Suarez and Emanuel Steward. 

In between, the pair would light up the boxing world as Hamed became a huge star in both Britain and America, and he is still fondly remembered by fans from that era as an explosive showdown who often delivered in the ring when it mattered most. 

With the bulk of the film focusing on the fractured relationship between Hamed and Ingle, Smith can vividly recall the separation as it was a huge story when it happened at the end of 1998. 

“I was there. I was right in the middle of it. All I know was it was a real shame,” said Smith, a close friend of Hamed, when discussing the complex relationship between Hamed and Ingle with DAZN News. 

“I was called by Naz to do an interview on the back of Paddy and The Prince. That came out and that was largely Brendan’s angle. Naz was upset about that, and he let rip in an interview. We sat in the studio at Prince Promotions and there was a big table between us and Paddy and The Prince was in the middle. Naz sat there saying Brendan was a Judas. 

“There was a split, and we did a right of reply with Brendan and Naz wasn’t happy about that. Feathers were ruffled and there was a lot of upset on both sides. I think Ryan Rhodes said in an interview that the split was inevitable and they had grown too far apart. 

“It was a shame. I’m sure money was a part of it, but it’s so sad as they were so good for each other. I’m sure they could've found a way through it.” 

On his own relationship with Ingle, Smith added, "I spent so much time with Brendan in his gym I'd be there in the morning when he arrived sometimes and he taught me so much about boxing and also about life. I spent more time with Brendan than with Naz but I love them both in different ways.

"Brendan was a real teacher who wanted to give back so much to the kids in his community and teach them about life and give them confidence and respect. There were no favourites there and it was just a wonderful place to be."

 

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