By Terence Dooley
Kellie Maloney, formerly known as Frank Maloney, is on the verge of securing a promotional licence and making a comeback. The Sun have reported that Maloney plans to return to the sport that she walked away from following David Price's back-to-back losses to Tony Thompson in 2013—Price was the star fighter in Maloney’s stable and his big heavyweight hope.
Robert Smith, the BBBoC’s General Secretary, told the publication that Maloney has reapplied for a promoter’s licence. “We are just going through the final formalities of the application—and there is no reason why we shouldn't issue the promoter's licence,” stated Smith. “Kellie has a wealth of boxing experience.”
Maloney took another step towards the sport on Saturday night when attending her first fight since announcing her desire to change gender. “I was very nervous but pleasantly surprised at the reaction,” she said. “I was nervous walking into a boxing hall in high heels and a dress.”
Maloney worked with Lennox Lewis during his rise to the top, becoming one of Sky Sport’s regular promoters before the network handed their boxing coverage to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom outfit. Maloney had hoped to get to the top of the heavyweight tree with Price, but he was visibly distraught when the Liverpudlian lost to Thompson for a second time in July 2013 and stepped away from the sport.
The 61-year-old announced plans for gender realignment last summer then appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, which also featured former Olympic medallist Audley Harrison, who clashed with Maloney after refusing to share a bath with her and expressing discomfort over Kellie’s transformation. They put the dispute behind them during the show after Harrison—currently without a promoter—apologised for his perceived insensitivity.
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