Kate Scott, formerly known as Kate Abdo, has built an international profile through football broadcasting, but her personal story has a surprising connection to the boxing world. Her relationship with former heavyweight boxer and trainer Malik Scott began through their shared sporting interests, bringing together two careers that developed in very different arenas.
As Kate continues to appear at major football events, including the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, interest in Malik’s career and their relationship has continued. From his work with former heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder to the boxing sessions that brought the couple closer, their story combines professional ambition, a shared passion for sport and a relationship that eventually led to marriage.
Who Is Malik Scott? Meet Kate Scott’s Husband
Malik Scott is a former professional heavyweight boxer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who later established a career as a boxing trainer. Although his name became widely associated with his work alongside Deontay Wilder, Scott first made his mark as a competitor in the heavyweight division.
He began his professional boxing career in 2000 and continued fighting until 2016. His professional record stands at 38 wins, three defeats and one draw, including 13 victories by knockout.
Scott faced several notable opponents during his career, including Derek Chisora, Deontay Wilder and Luis Ortiz. Those experiences in the ring later became part of his work as a trainer, where he applied his knowledge of professional heavyweight boxing to coaching other fighters.
His career subsequently moved from competition to the corner, with his coaching work bringing him back into contact with Wilder in a very different professional relationship.
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Celebrity sports relationships often attract interest because they bring together professional careers and personal lives in unexpected ways. For another story exploring a high-profile athlete’s family and relationship circumstances, read our Matthew Judon family situation explainer.
Malik Scott’s Career as Deontay Wilder’s Trainer
One of the most significant chapters of Malik Scott’s post-boxing career was his partnership with Deontay Wilder, the former WBC heavyweight champion.
The two men had previously faced each other as professional fighters, with Wilder defeating Scott in 2014. Their relationship later developed into a friendship and coaching partnership, demonstrating how opponents in the ring can eventually work together outside it.
Scott became Wilder’s head trainer in 2021, following the American heavyweight’s two previous defeats to Tyson Fury. He was part of Wilder’s corner for the third fight against Fury in October 2021, when Fury eventually stopped Wilder in the 11th round.
Scott remained involved with Wilder’s training team for several years after the trilogy. Their work together continued through Wilder’s subsequent fights against Robert Helenius, Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.
However, their professional partnership eventually ended in 2025.
Why Did Malik Scott and Deontay Wilder Split?
Wilder confirmed that Scott was no longer part of his training team, while Scott discussed the separation publicly. In a 2025 interview with Thunderpick, Scott explained that Wilder had personally contacted him about changing the coaching arrangement.
The split was described as amicable rather than a public feud. Both men indicated that their relationship remained positive despite the end of their professional partnership.
Wilder subsequently continued working with Don House, who became his head trainer.
Scott, meanwhile, continued identifying himself as a boxing trainer. His July 2025 interview with Thunderpick discussed potential professional opportunities, his interest in developing younger heavyweight talent and the possibility of working with fighters outside the traditional heavyweight boxing circuit.
Those comments reflected possible directions for his career, rather than confirmation that every fighter he mentioned had formally joined his training team.
How Did Kate Scott and Malik Scott Meet?
Kate and Malik first met in 2021 at a Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury boxing event. At the time, Kate was working in sports broadcasting and covering boxing, while Malik was involved with Wilder’s team.
Their first meeting did not immediately turn into a romantic relationship. Instead, their connection developed later, after Kate invited Malik to appear on her boxing podcast. The two subsequently began communicating through Instagram.
An important part of their developing relationship was Kate’s own interest in boxing. Although she was already known professionally as a football presenter, she had developed a serious interest in the sport and was training herself.
According to a 2024 profile published by The Ringer, Malik noticed videos of Kate boxing and asked who was training her. Kate explained that her trainer had moved to New York and that she had not yet found a replacement.
Malik offered to train her.
Kate initially felt intimidated by the prospect of working with someone who had experience training a heavyweight world champion. Recalling her reaction in the interview, she said:
“You’re too elite. I’d be too embarrassed.”
Despite those initial reservations, Kate eventually agreed to meet Malik at the gym. Their training sessions gave them more opportunities to spend time together, and the connection gradually developed into a romantic relationship.
Malik also explained what he admired about Kate’s approach to the sport. Speaking to The Ringer, he said she had:
“a real love for boxing”
Their shared interest became a defining feature of their relationship, connecting Kate’s broadcasting career with Malik’s experience as a professional fighter and trainer.
When Did Kate Scott and Malik Scott Get Married?
Kate and Malik married in September 2024 in an intimate ceremony in Malibu, California.
Rather than organising a large public wedding, the couple chose a personal celebration. According to Kate’s account in The Ringer, the ceremony took place on a helipad overlooking the ocean, with Malik’s children in attendance.
Kate later described the relaxed atmosphere of the celebration, recalling how they spent the evening together after the ceremony.
“We changed into our pajamas. We danced, ate, and laughed all night long.”
The wedding also included a detail that reflected Malik’s background in boxing. Kate arranged for a cake inspired by the boxing ring at Malik’s childhood gym in North Philadelphia.
The choice connected the celebration to an important part of Malik’s life and the sport that had played such a significant role in bringing the couple together.
Why Did Kate Abdo Change Her Name to Kate Scott?
Kate’s surname change became public shortly after the wedding, during CBS Sports’ Champions League coverage on September 17, 2024.
Addressing viewers during the broadcast, she announced her new name with a light-hearted introduction:
“Yes, with my new husband! Allow me to reintroduce myself. Last name, Abdo. It has to go. We’re going to do this. S-C-O-T-T. Kate Scott.”
The announcement marked the professional transition from Kate Abdo, the name under which she had established much of her international broadcasting career, to Kate Scott.
Both names may still appear in searches and coverage relating to her career, particularly when readers look for her earlier work or information about her marriage.
Does Malik Scott Train His Wife Kate Scott?
Yes. Malik has trained Kate in boxing, and their training relationship was one of the factors that helped bring them closer.
Kate’s interest in the sport existed before their relationship became romantic. She had covered boxing professionally and had trained before Malik offered to become her coach. Their shared workouts subsequently became part of their relationship.
At one stage, the possibility of Kate participating in actual boxing matches was discussed. However, Malik later made clear that he was no longer comfortable with the idea of her competing.
In a July 2025 interview with Thunderpick, he addressed the possibility of Kate boxing competitively, saying:
“I’m cool with just training my wife on pads.”
He also explained that fights had once been discussed but that he did not want to see her compete.
Consequently, reports suggesting that Kate is preparing for a professional boxing career would be misleading without a new, supporting announcement. There is no verified evidence in the supplied material that she has begun a professional boxing career.
Kate Scott’s Football Broadcasting Career
While Malik’s professional life has centred on boxing, Kate has established herself as a familiar face in international football coverage.
She is particularly well known in the United States for presenting CBS Sports’ UEFA Champions League coverage, regularly appearing alongside former players and analysts including Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards.
Her career has included broadcasting roles across several international markets and sports. Her ability to conduct interviews and discussions in multiple languages has also contributed to her international profile.
Through her football coverage and appearances at major UEFA events, Kate has continued to reach audiences well beyond the United States.
Kate Scott and Thierry Henry Host the 2026 Ballon d’Or
Kate’s latest major appearance came at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26, 2026.
The official Ballon d’Or organisation and UEFA announced that Kate Scott and former France and Arsenal star Thierry Henry would co-host the event at the London Palladium.
The ceremony marked the first time the Ballon d’Or had been held in London. UEFA said the decision to stage the awards in the British capital paid tribute to Stanley Matthews, the first Ballon d’Or winner.
Kate had previously hosted the ceremony in 2014, 2015 and 2025, making the 2026 event another return to a prominent role at one of football’s biggest annual awards.
The ceremony included the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or awards, alongside other honours recognising young talent, goalkeepers, coaches, clubs and strikers, as well as the Sócrates Award.
Malik accompanied Kate to the event and appeared alongside her on the red carpet. Their appearance brought together the two sides of their sporting lives: Kate’s international football broadcasting career and Malik’s background in professional boxing and coaching.
What Is Known About Kate Scott and Malik Scott’s Marriage?
Although Kate and Malik have shared details of their relationship through interviews and social media, they have generally kept their marriage relatively private.
The publicly documented story centres on their meeting through boxing, their training sessions, their September 2024 wedding and their continued support for each other’s professional lives.
The couple remain married as of October 2026, according to the supplied information, and have continued to appear together at major sporting events.
Their relationship has developed alongside their individual careers rather than replacing them. Kate has continued working in football broadcasting, while Malik has remained connected to boxing through his coaching experience and professional opportunities.
Conclusion
Kate Scott and Malik Scott’s relationship began through an unexpected overlap between sports broadcasting and professional boxing. Their initial meeting in 2021 led to renewed contact, shared training sessions and, eventually, their September 2024 wedding in Malibu.
For Malik, a career that began in the heavyweight ring developed into coaching, including his years working with Deontay Wilder. For Kate, the relationship has accompanied an established broadcasting career that brought her back to the Ballon d’Or stage in London in October 2026.
Their story is ultimately one of two sporting careers connected by a shared passion for boxing, with each continuing to pursue their own professional path.
Following More Celebrity Relationship News
Kate Scott and Malik Scott are not the only celebrity couple whose relationship has recently drawn attention from sports and entertainment audiences. You can also explore the latest developments in our Andrew Shue and Marilee Fiebig engagement report.
Source and Research Disclaimer
This article has been prepared using the sources listed below and the information provided in the research material. It reflects the details available from those sources and does not imply independent verification beyond the supplied material. Personal relationships and professional arrangements may change as new information becomes available.
Sources
- The Ringer: New Name, Same Game: How Kate Scott Became a Face of Soccer in America
- Official Ballon d’Or: Thierry Henry and Kate Scott to Host the 2026 Ceremony
- UEFA: 2026 Ballon d’Or Ceremony Details and Hosts
- Thunderpick: Exclusive Interview With Malik Scott, July 2025
- BBC Sport: Deontay Wilder v Robert Helenius
- GOAL: Kate Abdo Announces Her Surname Change During CBS Sports Coverage
- The Sun: Kate Abdo and Malik Scott Marriage and Relationship Background
- talkSPORT: Deontay Wilder Confirms the End of His Professional Partnership With Malik Scott
Featured Image Credit: @katescott / Instagram
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