Boxing legend Lennox Lewis comes out in support of former manager Maloney’s transition
Former boxing star Lennox Lewis has thrown his support behind former manager Kellie Maloney’s announcement that she is transitioning, and will undergo gender reassignment surgery.
Kellie Maloney, formerly known as Frank, revealed in an interview with the Sunday Mirror that she felt she had always had a “female brain”, but that she feared coming out over how the boxing world would react.
Maloney, 61, told the Mirror that she now plans to undergo gender reassignment surgery.
Lewis, a heavyweight champion, praised Maloney’s decision to come out as transgender, noting that the decision to do so must have been “difficult”, in an interview with the Sun.
He said: “The great thing about life and boxing is that you never know what to expect. This world 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 Kellie.
“However, having taken some time to read Kellie’s statement, I understand better what she, and others in similar situations are going through. I think all people should be allowed to live in a way that brings harmony and inner peace. I respect Kellie’s decision and say if this is what brings about true happiness in her life, then so be it.”
Maloney managed Lewis between 1981 and 2001.
Followers on social media reacted overwhelmingly positively to the announcement of her transition, although many noted homophobic comments made by Maloney during her UKIP candidacy for the 2010 election.
