Frank Maloney, who guided boxer Lennox Lewis to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, is now living as a woman called Kellie and is preparing to have a sex change. The promoter and manager, who has suffered heart problems in recent years, retired from boxing in October, claiming she had fallen out of love with the sport - but it has now emerged she walked away to begin preparing for her new life as a woman. Maloney, who was born in London, was involved in the sport for 30 years and had hoped to lead Liverpool heavyweight David Price to the top of the division. VIDEO Scroll down to watch 'Maloney talks about his heart attack in 2009, before sex change' New world: Kellie Maloney, formerly boxing promoter Frank, will undergo gender reassignment after feeling trapped in the wrong body . Happy: Maloney says she cannot continue 'living in the shadows' and that is why she has come to this decision . Speaking at the time, the famously flamboyant Millwall-supporting promoter said: 'For the last year I have gradually fallen out of love with boxing and my passion has been missing,' he said in a statement. 'I did much soul searching over the summer and my heart is no longer in the sport that I loved so much. 'If I continued as his promoter it would be unfair as I cannot give the commitment and love for the sport that is needed to get his career back on track. 'I no longer got the buzz I used to get. It has also been a tough time for me personally and I feel a lot more at ease with myself by reaching this decision.' Ecstasy: Maloney (right) as Frank, reacts after managing Lennox Lewis (left) to the World Heavyweight title in 1997 . Living a lie: Maloney (left, last year) admitted she has felt trapped in a man's body since she was a child and (right) with a young Lewis in 1989 . Winner: Maloney (front centre) celebrates after Lewis (arms raised) beat Donovan 'Razor' Ruddock for the Commonwealth heavyweight title at Earl's Court in 1992 . Belting: Maloney (right) with Lewis after the Londoner had defeated Gary Mason to win the British heavyweight title . Maloney was both a promoter and manager and the boxers he has worked with include... Lennox Lewis . David Price . Rendall Munroe . John McDermott . David Haye . Julius Francis . Jon Lewis Dickinson . However, she has now revealed she has felt trapped in the wrong body ever since she was a child. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, she said: 'I can’t keep living in the shadows, that is why I am doing what I am today. Living with the burden any longer would have killed me.' The 61-year-old admits the pressure and confusion caused by her struggles with her identity caused battles with drink, depression and drugs and has been secretly receiving counselling and therapy. Kellie says she kept her turmoil in the shadows because she feared a backlash from the notoriously macho world of boxing. 'I have never been able to tell anyone in boxing,' she added. 'Can you imagine me walking into a boxing hall dressed as a woman and putting an event on?' Kellie is now over a year into the transition period before surgery and in the past two years she has secretly undergone hormone therapy, hair removal and voice coaching. One of the hardest parts of the decision was telling her second wife and Kellie insists she doesn't want a new relationship and isn't interested in a sexual relationship with anybody. Glove story: Maloney is best known for managing Lewis, who rose to become heavyweight champion of the world . Smile: Maloney (right) with British cruiserweight Jon Lewis Dickinson following his victory over Shane McPhilbin in 2012 . Team: Maloney (right) with promoter Frank Warren (left) and their client Scott Harrison in 2003, here with the WBO featherweight title . The power of three: Maloney (right), Warren (left) and the king of the promoters, the controversial and outspoken American Don King . A number of celebrities have expressed their support for Kellie's decision. Stan Collymore tweeted: 'I wish Frank Maloney, now Kellie all the very best. Being who he wants to be after 61 years. Nobody deserves to begrudge him happiness. Meanwhile Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh added: 'All the best to Kellie, formerly Frank Maloney, in her new life. Great achievements happen in boxing, as elsewhere, irrespective of gender.' And former British cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson tweeted: 'Frank Maloney, read your story.. It's your life, don't make others stop who you are. Ignorance is the problem of others, not yours.' As Frank Maloney, she stood as a London Mayoral candidate in 2004 and attempted to win Barking for UKIP at the 2010 General Election.
Former promoter and manager has admitted she felt she was living a lie since childhood .
The 61-year-old is preparing to undergo a surgical sex change .
Maloney guided Lennox Lewis to world heavyweight title .
Also promoted David Haye, David Price and Julius Francis .
Maloney quit boxing last year to prepare for new life as a woman .
Kellie has felt like this since childhood: 'I can't keep living in the shadows'
Frank Maloney, who guided boxer Lennox Lewis to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, is now living as a woman called Kellie and is preparing to have a sex change. The promoter and manager, who has suffered heart problems in recent years, retired from boxing in October, claiming she had fallen out of love with the sport - but it has now emerged she walked away to begin preparing for her new life as a woman. Maloney, who was born in London, was involved in the sport for 30 years and had hoped to lead Liverpool heavyweight David Price to the top of the division. VIDEO Scroll down to watch 'Maloney talks about his heart attack in 2009, before sex change' New world: Kellie Maloney, formerly boxing promoter Frank, will undergo gender reassignment after feeling trapped in the wrong body . Happy: Maloney says she cannot continue 'living in the shadows' and that is why she has come to this decision . Speaking at the time, the famously flamboyant Millwall-supporting promoter said: 'For the last year I have gradually fallen out of love with boxing and my passion has been missing,' he said in a statement. 'I did much soul searching over the summer and my heart is no longer in the sport that I loved so much. 'If I continued as his promoter it would be unfair as I cannot give the commitment and love for the sport that is needed to get his career back on track. 'I no longer got the buzz I used to get. It has also been a tough time for me personally and I feel a lot more at ease with myself by reaching this decision.' Ecstasy: Maloney (right) as Frank, reacts after managing Lennox Lewis (left) to the World Heavyweight title in 1997 . Living a lie: Maloney (left, last year) admitted she has felt trapped in a man's body since she was a child and (right) with a young Lewis in 1989 . Winner: Maloney (front centre) celebrates after Lewis (arms raised) beat Donovan 'Razor' Ruddock for the Commonwealth heavyweight title at Earl's Court in 1992 . Belting: Maloney (right) with Lewis after the Londoner had defeated Gary Mason to win the British heavyweight title . Maloney was both a promoter and manager and the boxers he has worked with include... Lennox Lewis . David Price . Rendall Munroe . John McDermott . David Haye . Julius Francis . Jon Lewis Dickinson . However, she has now revealed she has felt trapped in the wrong body ever since she was a child. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, she said: 'I can’t keep living in the shadows, that is why I am doing what I am today. Living with the burden any longer would have killed me.' The 61-year-old admits the pressure and confusion caused by her struggles with her identity caused battles with drink, depression and drugs and has been secretly receiving counselling and therapy. Kellie says she kept her turmoil in the shadows because she feared a backlash from the notoriously macho world of boxing. 'I have never been able to tell anyone in boxing,' she added. 'Can you imagine me walking into a boxing hall dressed as a woman and putting an event on?' Kellie is now over a year into the transition period before surgery and in the past two years she has secretly undergone hormone therapy, hair removal and voice coaching. One of the hardest parts of the decision was telling her second wife and Kellie insists she doesn't want a new relationship and isn't interested in a sexual relationship with anybody. Glove story: Maloney is best known for managing Lewis, who rose to become heavyweight champion of the world . Smile: Maloney (right) with British cruiserweight Jon Lewis Dickinson following his victory over Shane McPhilbin in 2012 . Team: Maloney (right) with promoter Frank Warren (left) and their client Scott Harrison in 2003, here with the WBO featherweight title . The power of three: Maloney (right), Warren (left) and the king of the promoters, the controversial and outspoken American Don King . A number of celebrities have expressed their support for Kellie's decision. Stan Collymore tweeted: 'I wish Frank Maloney, now Kellie all the very best. Being who he wants to be after 61 years. Nobody deserves to begrudge him happiness. Meanwhile Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh added: 'All the best to Kellie, formerly Frank Maloney, in her new life. Great achievements happen in boxing, as elsewhere, irrespective of gender.' And former British cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson tweeted: 'Frank Maloney, read your story.. It's your life, don't make others stop who you are. Ignorance is the problem of others, not yours.' As Frank Maloney, she stood as a London Mayoral candidate in 2004 and attempted to win Barking for UKIP at the 2010 General Election.
Frank Maloney, who guided boxer Lennox Lewis to is preparing to have a sex change. The promoter begin preparing for her new life as a woman. Liverpool heavyweight David Price to the top of change' New world: Kellie Maloney, formerly boxing promoter Frank, will undergo gender lie: Maloney (left, last year) admitted she has felt trapped in a man's body since she was a to win the British heavyweight title . Maloney was both a promoter and manager and the boxers he Haye . Julius Francis . Jon Lewis Dickinson . 'I can’t keep living in the shadows, that is why