Champion boxer announces he’s gay

SINGAPORE, Singapore – Puerto Rican Featherweight Orlando “El Olimpico” Cruz (18-2-1, 9KO), a former Olympian and the current interim WBO Latino Featherweight champion, announced Wednesday, October 3, that he is gay.

The revelation made him the first boxer in the history of the sport to come out of the closet.

It’s certainly a surprise, in a sport as primal and as violent where ‘gay’ insults are easily thrown around and aimed at any fighter who is perceived to be ducking opposition. But the 31-year-old 126-pounder looks to inspire kids like him who may be thinking about taking up professional boxing to make a living.

“I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself,” said Cruz, now officially the world’s first openly gay boxer. “I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career. I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.”

Talented boxer

Inside the ring, the Boricua southpaw is lightning quick with both his hands and his feet and possesses knockout power, having stopped 9 opponents out of 18 fights so far.

He’s also rangy and elusive, employing great footwork to get in and out of trouble.

Cruz is no stranger to success, having won his first world championship by outclassing Carlos Guevara by unanimous decision back in 2008 to capture the IBA Featherweight title.

Many see a bright future for Cruz, who may be in line for a serious title shot in the near future. He will be a great acid test for any of the popular names in his division including Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire and even Yuriorkis Gamboa.

Cruz’s only losses have come against world beaters, and subsequently by knockout. Cornelius Lock put him to sleep in 2009. Heavy-handed Daniel Ponce De Leon (who is famous in the Philippines for being the man to knockout Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista), caught Cruz with a fight-ending body shot back in 2010.

Nevertheless, Cruz continues to push his career forward. On October 19, 2012 he faces Jorge Pazos at the Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida. The fight will be contested for the WBO Latino Featherweight title and will be historically significant as it will go down in the record books as being the first professional boxing match featuring a gay man.

Cruz said he hopes to inspire others, gay or straight, to be true to themselves. – Rappler.com