Boxing promoter Frank Maloney reveals he is now living as a woman called Kellie

Frank Maloney, the former boxing promoter who guided Lennox Lewis to the world heavyweight title, is now living as a woman and plans undergo a sex change.

The 61-year-old said her work in the macho world of boxing was one of the reasons why she had “lived in the shadows” for decades.

As she went public with her new female identity, Kellie, in a tabloid newspaper Maloney confessed she had anticipated a tough response from the world of sport.

But the reaction was almost universally supportive.

Lewis, who was Maloney’s most successful fighter, released a statement expressing his "respect" for Maloney's decision despite his initial disbelief.

The statement said: "I was just as shocked as anyone at the news about my former promoter and my initial thought was that it was a wind up. The great thing about life, and boxing, is that, day to day, you never know what to expect. This world we live in isn't always cut and dried or black and white, and coming from the boxing fraternity, I can only imagine what a difficult decision this must be for [Maloney].

"However, having taken some time to read Kellie's statements, I understand better what she, and others in similar situations are going through. I think that all people should be allowed to live their lives in a way that brings them harmony and inner peace.

"I respect Kellie's decision and say that if this is what brings about true happiness in her life, than so be it. #LiveAndLetLive."

Paul Smith Jr, the British super middleweight champion said on Twitter: “Just seen the Frank Maloney stuff. Crazy story.

“Never slagged him to his face so won't do it on here. Each to their own, hope he/she's happy.”

Stan Collymore, the football pundit and former England centre-forward, said: “I wish Frank Maloney, now Kellie all the very best. Being who he wants to be after 61 years. Nobody deserves to begrudge him happiness.”

^{Frank Maloney is now living as a woman called Kellie (Sunday Mirror/ Mirrorpix)}

Maloney, a former Ukip candidate who is twice married and has three daughters, told the Sunday Mirror she has been living as a female for more than a year.

“I wasn't born into the right body, I have always known I was a woman. I can't keep living in the shadows," she said.

Maloney, who has a history of heart problems, added: “Living with the burden any longer would have killed me.

"I hope society will be open-minded. I know I could have done my job in boxing as a female.”

Maloney, who was brought up a strict Catholic by Irish parents in London’s East End, said she had known she was “different” since childhood, and has already began hormone treatment, hair removal, voice coaching and specialist counselling.

Under NHS guidelines a transsexual must spend two years as a female before qualifying for corrective surgery.

“If I had been in the theatre or arts world nobody would blink an eye about this transition,” she said.

Maloney said that telling her wife and daughters about her long-standing secret had been a harrowing experience.

But her mother, Maureen, had responded with warmth and gentle humour.

She said her mother had joked: “Why didn’t you come to me when you were younger? All we had to do was change the ‘I’ to an ‘E’ in your name, Francis.”

Maloney said that in her former life as a man he had only occasionally secretly dressed as a woman.

“I’d throw the female clothes away after trying them on. I feared anyone finding them,” Maloney said.

Later in life, the promoter visited an “underground dressing-up service” in Dublin which allowed men “get a makeover and stay for a few hours”.

Maloney, who was known for his flamboyant Union Flag suits, was still living as a man when he announced his sudden retirement from the boxing world after a 30-year career last October.

His decision brought an end to a colourful career which saw him guide Lewis to glory despite memorably being derided as a "mental midget" by Don King, the US promoter.

^{Frank Maloney at his office in Chiselhurst, Kent in 2010 (Rex)}

Other reaction to Maloney’s announcement came from Dave Coldwell, the promoter, who said: “When I think back to how miserable Frank Maloney was when we crossed paths, maybe this was the reason and not boxing. Hope he's happy now.”

Alex Arthur, the former super featherweight champion, said Maloney was a “kind” man in a “world of selfish, horrible, cut-throat pimps”.

“I'm not going to judge anyone. Frank is a good person,” Arthur wrote.

Eric Hall, the football promoter and a friend of Maloney, could not resist a quip, however.

“So Frank Maloney has swapped boxing gloves for chiffon gloves! Jokes aside he's an old mate and it took guts to come out. Good luck Kellie,” he said on Twitter.