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This film features a talented ensemble, depicting the true story of coach Brendan Ingle, who mentored a cheeky Yorkshire teenager from Yemeni immigrant parents. Dubbed “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the fighter was taught to confront racist bullies and transformed into a celebrity titleholder in the 1990s. Ingle nurtured his showboating confidence and lethal fists, but after achieving wealth, Hamed betrayed his coach, excluding him and making him a mix of Falstaff and Danny Rose.

Cast and Characters

Brosnan plays the trainer; El-Masry embodies the role of the prince, and Stephens is the assertive London promoter Warren, who recognized the goldmine that the coach had uncovered.

Where the Movie Falls Short

However, the film honestly lacks the Prince’s fancy footwork: the fight scenes run smoothly, but the crucial story between them is consistently dull and one-note. There is no nuance or contrast in the depiction of the protagonist himself, and the actor, an otherwise outstanding performer, doesn’t get the chance to show any depth or much of what might make his character truly engaging – even though he’s clearly been working out and appears convincing in the ring.

Problems with Script and Sound

The story is repeatedly burdened by functional, explanatory lines that inform you exactly what is going on and what we are supposed to be thinking (“You started your boxing journey at age seven …”). This is the kind of script that digital producers call “double-screen”, making sure you understand what’s unfolding while you’re viewing the film but also checking your device. And, the score is overbearing, at times nearly deafening, particularly in the moment where Hamed gets overexcited calling on the promoter in his palatial home.

Performances and Key Moments

Although El-Masry and Brosnan do their considerable best, their relationship doesn’t quite ignites, and the major boxing moments are often disappointingly cut short. The most important moment is surely when, provoked past his limit in the gym one day by Hamed as a delusional “elder”, Ingle in fact offers to step into the ring and box him. All present in the gym is stunned and uneasy. In what way is this extremely risky standoff going to unfold? How precisely the outcome? Surely the Prince is going to defeat him? Alternatively will he sentimentally pull his punches? The resolution remains ambiguous.

Highlights and Humor

This isn’t to imply that there aren’t some nice jabs. The actor gets laughs when Ingle informs a reporter what he’s teaching the youths from his neighborhood: to reject bias and when you meet a paedophile, “Hit them in the groin”. Amusing too when Hamed fidgets at the silly antics Ingle makes him do in the early days: posing as the “beast from the Middle East”.

Plot and Conclusion

As for the falling out, the film depicts this as being exacerbated by a tell-all book that Ingle is supposed to have written (a story element evidently adapted from prior material), and there is an interestingly conceived final conversation – however the emotional tribute that the boxer is reportedly paid to Ingle after his passing is only referenced in the end titles, and not shown on film. Some engaging content here, but the blows fail to connect.

The film was shown at the London film festival and is available in UK and Irish theaters from January 9.