Giant – REVIEW

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Despite his small size, ‘Prince’ Naseem Ahmed dominated the boxing world in the 1990s. As a featherweight world champion, he was incredibly difficult to beat, thanks to a combination of quick footwork and powerful punches that made him seem unbeatable.

The film ‘Giant‘ chronicles the journey of a young man who rises from humble beginnings as the son of Yemeni shopkeepers in Sheffield to become a boxing champion. However, the story is primarily told through the perspective of his trainer, Brendan Ingle (played by Pierce Brosnan), a local gym owner who mentored him from age seven. Ingle acts as a father figure, especially given the boy’s absent biological father. Written and directed by Rowan Athale, the film explores the racism the young boxer experiences and how Ingle helps him transform that negativity into fuel for success in the ring.

Even as a kid, he had this confident swagger that was almost cute. But as he became a pro boxer, that confidence morphed into full-blown arrogance, and people started to turn away from him. Honestly, it made him amazing entertainment, though. His winning streak was incredible, and promoter Frank Warren totally recognized that, pushing him hard and making him a huge draw for boxing fans.

Ahmed Hamed’s confident, even arrogant, behavior was actually fostered by his trainer, Ingle, though it would eventually cause problems. Hamed often taunted and disrespected his opponents and their fans. This was particularly evident in his infamous 1995 fight against Steve Robinson, the WBO champion. Hamed provoked such intense anger from the Welsh fans that security had to shield him as he entered Cardiff’s National Stadium in the pouring rain, walking through a wave of hostility. He then went on to decisively defeat the champion.

The story of Giant, like that of many boxers, centers around a difficult split with his trainer – a separation often marked by bitterness towards the person who originally helped them develop their skills. Ahmed’s own arrogance contributed to his decline, and wasn’t helped by his close circle, including his brothers. One brother, resembling Liam Gallagher, constantly undermined Ingle and fueled Ahmed’s resentment.

Despite being produced by Sylvester Stallone, Hamed doesn’t achieve the same endearing quality as Rocky. Amir El-Masry does a good job portraying the boxer’s confident and somewhat arrogant personality, but the script keeps him rather one-dimensional. It doesn’t explore any vulnerability or self-doubt that might have made him more relatable. Perhaps the film intentionally presents him as a straightforward character. In the years following his Bond role, Pierce Brosnan has consistently appeared in excellent, overlooked films, and this is another strong performance. A particularly moving scene near the end shows an imagined reconciliation between the two men. Sadly, they never reconciled in real life before Ingle passed away, and the film only includes a closing text revealing his belated gratitude. This moment could have truly humanized Hamed, given everything that came before, and served as a poignant reminder that holding onto grudges is often pointless and that people can be stubbornly resistant to making amends.

The story of Ahmed’s vibrant personality and boxing career is perfectly suited for a biographical film – much more so than someone like the more reserved Lennox Lewis. In fact, a film about Chris Eubank seems likely to happen soon, too. While it doesn’t reach the heights of Raging Bull, this film is definitely a step above something like Rocky V and serves as a good reminder of a truly great British boxer.

Here’s the Giant trailer…….

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2026-01-08 03:24