Puerto Rican professional boxer, Orlando Cruz, is now the first openly gay professional fighter. Know why? Because the featherweight champ, 31, recently released a press statement where he openly say he will “always be a proud gay man“.
Here is what Cruz had to say:
“I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself. 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.”
Cruz, who turned pro shortly after the Sydney Olympics in 2000, has been boxing since he was seven and has won seven national titles and seven international gold medals.
He’s scheduled to fight Jorge Pazos in Florida on Friday, October 19.
