Former Chislehurst boxing legend Kellie Maloney has spoken about her return to the industry just two months after gender reassignment surgery.
Boxing promoter Frank Maloney was in the business for more than 30 years before retiring, and is credited with leading Lennox Lewis to become Britain's first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in nearly a century.
In October 2013 Kellie, then known as Frank, hung up her gloves from the world of boxing and made the shock announcement last year she was undergoing gender reassignment surgery.
Last month Kellie revealed she was returning to the industry after undergoing full gender reassignment surgery.
With two fighters already signed, the 62-year-old confessed: "I hope I'm wrong, but I'm frightened that this may bring back Frank.
"I've got Frank's gritty, gutsy determination to thank for helping me survive the torment of feeling trapped in the wrong body, and getting me through the agonising process of becoming a woman, but I don't want him dominating me again like he did.”
In the past Frank was known for his flamboyant Union Jack suits and razor-sharp repartee and swaggering cockney accent.
But now Kellie, after undergoing hormone therapy, hundreds of hours of hair removal by electrolysis, voice coaching and specialist counselling, cuts a more feminine form with a softer voice.
She added: “The torment he was going through made Frank angry, aggressive and selfish. So far I've kept him submerged and at bay and I hope the challenges of stepping back into his world - boxing - don't bring him out again.
MORE TOP STORIES “I'm only taking the risk to prove to myself I can succeed as a woman in the sport I love. It's the final piece in my complicated jigsaw.
"For me, every day for years I used to put on this suit called Frank Maloney and face the world, but inside I was a ticking-time bomb.
"Deep inside, I knew the truth would come out eventually because I was literally destroying myself fighting the need to look like and be a woman.
"I was a workaholic and often drank too much to numb the pain of being so isolated and confused.
"On the night of my ultimate success, when Lennox Lewis won, I went back to my hotel room and sobbed because even that couldn't make up for the emptiness at the heart of my life.
"I used to dread the nights because I'd be haunted by Kellie."
But she’s positive about her return to the sport, but conceded it would not be the same as before.
Kellie said: “It will be different though because when in the past and out with the blokes, it would be all about looking at women and them going, 'She's fit, what do you think about her?' and I'd go, 'Yeah', but I wasn't thinking about sex, I was thinking, 'Wish I could look like her, love that dress'."
A documentary called Kellie Maloney: No Going Back, will air on June 4 on Channel 5 detailing Kellie's journey.
Bromley
