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On the ropes: The battle for Kellie Maloney

Kellie Maloney took boxing icon Lennox Lewis to heavyweight champion status. Despite being surrounded by money, fame and success Kellie was unhappy and keeping a huge secret.

Former boxing manager and promoter Kellie Maloney dreamed of managing a heavyweight champion. This wish came true after meeting Olympic gold medallist Lennox Lewis. Together they ruled the boxing world and made history after Lennox became Britain’s first undisputed heavyweight champion in nearly 100 years. But at the height of her career Kellie was completely miserable and living a double life.

At the time Kellie went by Frank, the brash promoter famous for going toe to toe with personalities like Don King, Mickey Duff and Barry Hearne. But behind closed doors, she was Kellie Maloney, who dreamed of being a woman and lived her life through stories of trans people she'd find online and in magazines.

It was a constant battle between the life she had as Frank and the life she wanted to live as Kellie. Her story is told in the documentary Knock Out Blonde: The Kellie Maloney Story, which is available to watch on streaming platforms from 7 October.

Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Tommy Dixon

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Kellie Maloney. Credit: Kaleidoscope Entertainment)

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41 minutes

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