Rob Newbiggin, a British boxer, has decided to undergo a sex change operation to become a woman.

Rob Newbiggin, whose 20-year professional fight record includes three wins, one by knockout and 12 defeats, said he was born intersexual, which mean he cannot be classified male or female.

The 44-year-old father-of-three said he was born with the physical characteristics of a man, but had high levels of oestrogen in his body and was put up for adoption, according to several British media outlets.

Newbiggin told the reporters that after his sex change operation he would change his name to Mercedes.

However, the decision to undergo the sex change has not been widely received from his friends.

I have lost every friend I have ever had in the world in this town.

Rob, who is married with three children wants to continue boxing as a woman, although if this falls through he hopes to carve out a career as a model.

Newbiggin was born in the United States in 1964 and abandoned by his South American parents. After living in a number of foster homes, he was finally adopted by a Canadian couple and moved to England.

Rob said: “My dad said I had to act like a man because people would not accept me as anything else, so I started boxing at the YMCA at about the age of 12.

“He was trying to protect me. I did not find out I was adopted until I was 16 and then about how I was born, but then it all starting making sense. From the age of 10, I was dressing up and watching girls – I preferred girls’ company.

United kingdom