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KNOCKOUT BLONDE: THE KELLIE MALONEY STORY

  • filmsinreview
  • May 24
  • 3 min read

by Victoria Alexander


KNOCKOUT BLONDE is Kellie Maloney’s fascinating life in the world of testosterone-fueled boxing.


I’m a big fan of boxing but not familiar with legendary boxers, like Lennox Lewis, who is prominently a part of the story of his manager, now known as Kellie Maloney.


KNOCKOUT BLONDE is Kellie Maloney’s fascinating life in the world of testosterone-fueled boxing. Football is indeed a violent sport, but it is a team sport. All the football players on the field have only one goal and work together protecting the quarterback and jointly winning the game.


Boxing is different. It is only you against an opponent. So your adrenaline is not enhanced by your teammates. Imagine everything you work for, train for and your future depends on the outcome of a full 12-round heavyweight bout that, if it does go 12-rounds, is 47 minutes long.


Frank Maloney was born in 1953 to Irish parents. He was the smallest of their three sons and bullied until he was introduced to boxing. Unfortunately, his small size was not conductive to a career in the ring, but his passion brought him worldwide attention when he became the manager of Lennox Lewis. Under Maloney’s management, Lewis became a three-time world champion and the last undisputed heavyweight champion.


Frank Maloney was well-known as a tough negotiator. At 5’2”, Maloney dealt with men like Lennox, whose height is 6’5”.  Maloney married young and became the father of a girl, Emma. That marriage ended in divorce and Frank married again and had two more girls.


But there was something troubling Frank that colored his entire life. He was parading around as a men’s man, in a world dominated by big, violent men. He was respected, but he was really living a lie, he was a woman. He kept this secret for a nearly a lifetime, until, when he was 61 years old, he told his second wife, Tracey, the mother of his two daughters, Sophie and Libby.


In August, 2014, Frank announced that from then on to be known as Kellie. This revelation was hard on Tracey and daughters Emma, Sophie and Libby.


KNOCKOUT BLONDE is the story of Kellie’s life as a woman. After legally becoming Kellie, with name change, driver’s license and passport, the press became aware of the transition. And Kellie Maloney became an overnight media sensation.


What is so endearing about this documentary is Kellie’s honest, unfiltered discussion of her life’s journey.


Kellie’s acceptance is revealing, as she became a reality star. Encouraged by her love and knowledge of boxing, she returned to management. The interesting aspect of her story is, unlike most male to female transition, Kellie spent decades in the world of extreme training, a violent sport and the role of manager is to not only accept the violence but nurture it.


Kellie is also a pioneer for discussing the truth of her life. She married twice and had three children. The transition affected his children and the boxing community. Kellie is a perfect subject for a documentary because she is so engaging. The best thing Kellie reported was her boxing colleagues accepted her without malice.

 

"The ALL is Mind; The Universe is Mental."


Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Critic.

For a complete list of Victoria Alexander's movie reviews on Rotten Tomatoes go to:


Contributing to:FilmsInReview: http://www.filmsinreview.com

Member of Las Vegas Film Critics Society


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