
Knock Out Blonde: The Kellie Maloney Story review – trans boxing promoter fights for identity

After steering Lennox Lewis to world heavyweight success, her transition to Kellie was a tabloid sensation. This intimate and moving documentary tells us much more
This is one of those documentaries that feels like it directs itself, so improbable is its story: The Peckham-born Catholic and heavyweight boxing promoter formerly known as Frank Maloney finally acknowledges the gender confusion that has dogged her life and, in her early 60s, transitions to becoming Kellie. In particular, the scenes where Maloney builds up to telling each of her three children that she is a woman play out in strange parallel to the succession of bouts we previously see her client Lennox Lewis undergo chasing the world title. There are similar undertones of destiny too. “This journey is not one that you choose, this journey chooses you,” Maloney says just before her crucial reassignment surgery.
Where Knock Out Blonde is not so sharp...
This is one of those documentaries that feels like it directs itself, so improbable is its story: The Peckham-born Catholic and heavyweight boxing promoter formerly known as Frank Maloney finally acknowledges the gender confusion that has dogged her life and, in her early 60s, transitions to becoming Kellie. In particular, the scenes where Maloney builds up to telling each of her three children that she is a woman play out in strange parallel to the succession of bouts we previously see her client Lennox Lewis undergo chasing the world title. There are similar undertones of destiny too. “This journey is not one that you choose, this journey chooses you,” Maloney says just before her crucial reassignment surgery.
Where Knock Out Blonde is not so sharp...
- 7/31/2024
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
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