Boxing biopic 'Giant' tells tale of 'the Prince and his trainer'

LONDON – The docudrama Giant brings the story of Britain’s former world champion boxer, “Prince” Naseem Hamed, to the big screen, with Amir El-Masry and Pierce Brosnan portraying the boxer and his trainer.

Hamed, who held multiple featherweight world titles during a career spanning 1992 to 2002, was famed for his spectacular ring entrances and show-stopping antics.

Giant follows Hamed’s rise from humble beginnings, highlighting his relationship with mentor and trainer Brendan Ingle.

Ingle, an Irishman played by Brosnan, runs a gym in Sheffield, England, aiming to inspire youngsters to trade street life for the boxing ring. When Hamed’s Yemeni parents send him there to better prepare him against racist bullies, 7-year-old Naseem quickly stands out for his speed, footwork, and swagger. Ingle’s unorthodox training methods, combined with Hamed’s raw talent, push the pair to the top of the sport, though their bond is tested by success.

“It’s a story of two men who are wildly ambitious… who know what it’s like to be on the outside of life and have this ferocious passion to be great,” Brosnan said at the London premiere on Wednesday.

Brothers Ghaith and Ali Saleh portray Hamed at ages 7 and 12, while El-Masry takes on the boxer at his peak. El-Masry spent four weeks preparing for the role, training 12 hours a day, losing 8 kg (18 pounds), and studying archival footage to capture Hamed’s movements and bravado.

“Massive boots to fill. He was one of my heroes growing up,” El-Masry said.

Sylvester Stallone served as an executive producer for Giant, which was written and directed by Rowan Athale. Athale described the film as a “fractured love story between a father and a son,” and said he wanted to highlight Ingle’s contributions to boxing and his community.

“He’s as brilliant in his field as Naz was in his, so I wanted to give them equal time,” Athale said.

Hamed, 51, who attended the London premiere to show his support, was not involved in the production.

“To be really honest, this is not a story about me. It’s a film about the prince and his trainer. I didn’t have much input at all, so there are some good parts and some bad parts,” Hamed said, adding that he plans to make a documentary series about his life with actor Mark Wahlberg.

Giant begins its global theatrical rollout on January 8.

-Reporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by Tom Hogue/Reuters