Kellie Maloney: 'We are human beings. We just want to live our lives.' But sport, no...

Kellie Maloney wants trans women to be accepted in society but says they have no place in women's sport.

Sat, 15 Feb, 2025 - 08:17

Owen Ryan

FROM walking into the ring with Lennox Lewis for the biggest fights of his career to changing gender in her sixties, Kellie Maloney hasn't had a dull life.

Kellie is perhaps the most recognisable transgender person in the UK now, while Frank Maloney was once one of the most prominent people in the business of British boxing.

Most well known for work with Lennox Lewis, Frank handled several other world champions and was associated with tragic Irish Olympic medallist Darren Sutherland.

Kellie is the subject of a new documentary Knockout Blonde, which will be screened at The Outing Festival at the Inn at Dromoland in Co Clare on Saturday, at which she will also be a speaker.

The documentary can be viewed on Youtube and provides a fascinating look at a remarkable personal journey.

It features numerous interviews with Kellie's ex-wife and now close friend Tracey, as well as with her daughters, as they discuss the journey they went on as Frank, a beloved husband and father, became Kellie.

While the documentary essentially paints a positive picture, it doesn't shy away from the impact on Kellie's loved ones, with Tracey clearly not pleased that much of the transition was so public.

Asked about the motivation for the new film, Kellie says she wanted to demonstrate the reality around transgenderism and to show that it is not a simple lifestyle choice. "I wanted to get across to people that this isn't something that anyone chooses, it's something that affects you from the minute you are born and it's part of you. Do not be afraid of us. We are human beings. We just want to live our lives and be accepted in society the way we see ourselves."

The Trump presidency has opened with a blitz of executive orders aimed at trans people, and Kellie says the president is someone she never took to. "I've met Donald Trump in a previous life, when I was Lennox's manager and even then he was an arrogant arsehole. I feel sorry that the American people voted him in, they're being led to self-destruction."

She remembers that Trump came to some of the Lewis fights, and didn't like being told he couldn't have a piece of the hugely talented British fighter. "He was there three times, if I'm not mistaken. I spoke with him, he said he wanted part of Lennox, he said I want to be part of his team, I want all his fights.

"I said unfortunately you can't, we already have a team in place, Lennox is very happy with his team and we would not sell ourselves to any one person. He didn't particularly like the response. He's like a spoiled child, if he doesn't get his own way he sulks."

Yet there is some common ground between Kellie and Trump, as she believes that trans women can't safely compete in female boxing and shouldn't be allowed to do so.

Indeed she has said on social media that allowing their participation gives ammunition to those who despise the trans community.

"Trans women that have gone through male puberty shouldn't take part in women's sport. That's one thing a lot of trans people hold against me, they say I'm not loyal. But I believe sport has to be safe and fair.

"I don't believe in a level playing field, there's no such thing in sport. One person could have more money, better training facilities, for example a lot of money was put into Lennox Lewis' career so other heavyweights didn't have the same opportunity. There's never a level playing field, but what sport must be is safe and fair."

Darren Sutherland turned pro with Maloney after winning Olympic bronze in 2008, and it was Frank who discovered his dead body the following year.

It was subsequently claimed that the Dubliner was in fear of his promoter, but Kellie insists that was not the case. "Whatever pressure was put on Darren it wasn't from me. I told Darren that if he wanted not to box that was his decision. I can lead a horse to water but I can't make it drink the water.

"That's the kind of thing I said to Darren. I told him that if he wanted to take a year off, take a year off. If you never want to box again that's your choice. I said if he wanted to go to my house in Portugal, he could have as long a holiday as he wanted, until he knew what he wanted to do."

Now in her 70s, Kellie divides her time between Portugal and the UK and has a level of happiness that eluded her for most of her life. "I've sort of semi-retired, this is a rare interview nowadays. I'm so content with my life and so happy that I don't want it to stop, I try not to give myself any stress anymore. I will do certain talks if I'm asked to do them, but I don't get involved with arguments about the trans community, I don't get involved about JK Rowling.

"I have an opinion that everyone is entitled to their opinion and we have to listen. Just because you may not agree with me doesn't make you transphobic. You may not agree with me, but you don't have the right to deny my existence. That's the message I try to get across to people."

While she did relatively little work in boxing after transitioning, she feels Kellie would have been successful. "I think I would have been even better as Kellie. She was more understanding, more willing to listen." She laughs. "Frank was an arrogant little man."