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Orlando Cruz, a professional boxer from San Juan Puerto Rico (18-2-1, 9 KOs), former Olympian and currently ranked No. 4 Featherweight by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), is announcing today that he ”Is a proud gay man.”
Cruz is the first openly gay man in boxing history. “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. “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.”
Orlando Cruz began boxing at the age of 7 and posted an amateur career record of 178-11. He won 7 Puerto Rico National Title’s and spent 4 years on The Puerto Rican National Team. Cruz won 7 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze in various international tournaments. His amateur career culminated as a representative of the 2000 Olympic Team in Sydney, Australia. 2000 Olympic teammates included former world champions Miguel Cotto and Ivan Calderon.
Cruz made his professional debut on December 15, 2000 and won his first world title on March 22, 2008 (vacant IBA Featherweight Title) and a regional title on October 14, 2011 (WBO Latino Featherweight title). His next fight is scheduled for October 19 at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida in which he will defend his WBO NABO title against Jorge Pazos. A win against Pazos should position Cruz for a world title shot.
Orlando Cruz is sitting down with Telemundo’s Jessi Losada in an exclusive tell-all that will air next week.
See attached open letter is Spanish and English From Orlando Cruz and Cruz photo.
ENGLISH
Orlando “Fenómeno” Cruz, a professional boxer, former Olympian, currently ranked #4 in the World Boxing Organization in the featherweight division, today announced that he’s a “proud gay man.” He is the first openly gay boxer in history. His next fight will be on Friday, October 19, at the Kissimmee Civic Center, in which he’ll defend his title.Cruz said in a statement:
“I’ve been fighting for more that 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 always been and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and will always be a proud gay man. I don’t want to hide any of my identities. I want people to look at me for the human being that I am. I am a professional sportsman that always bring his best to the ring. I want for people to continue to see me for my boxing skills, my character, my sportsmanship.
“But I also want kids who suffer from bullying, to know that you can be whoever you want to be in life, including a professional boxer. That anything is possible and that who you are or whom you love should not be impediment to achieving anything in life.
“I want to thank my family, especially my Mom, who’s my inspiration and my best reason to continue to live and my brother and my sister. I want to thank my friends for their love and support. And I also want to thank my team for believing in me and being so supportive not only in this decision, but throughout my career.
“I am and will always be a proud Puerto Rican gay man.”
Cruz has been boxing for more than 24 years, he has represented Puerto Rico in the Pan American Games, Central American Games, the World Cup and the Olympics.
In his amateur career, he had 189 fights, winning 178 of those. Now, as a professional boxer, he has fought 21 combats, with 9 KOs and only 2 losses. He’s currently the Latin Champion of the World Boxing Organization and he’s ranked #4 in the World in the featherweight (126 pounds) division.
ESPAÑOL
Orlando “Fenómeno” Cruz, un boxeador profesional, pasado atleta olímpico, que está en la cuarta posición en la Organización Mundial de Boxeo en la división pluma, anunció hoy que es un “orgulloso hombre gay”. Es el primer boxeador abiertamente gay de la historia. Su próximo combate será el viernes, 19 de octubre en el Kissimmee Civic Center donde defenderá su título.
Cruz dijo lo siguiente en su declaración:
“He estado boxeando por más de 24 años y mientras continúo mi ascendente carrera, quiero ser fiel a mi mismo. Quiero tratar de ser el mejor ejemplo que puedo ser para los niños que ven al boxeo como un deporte y como carrera deportiva.
“Siempre he sido y seguiré siendo un orgulloso puertorriqueño. Siempre he sido y seguiré siendo un orgulloso hombre gay. No quiero esconder ninguna de mis identidades. Quiero que las personas me vean por el ser humano que soy. Soy un deportista profesional que siempre trae lo mejor de sí al cuadrilátero. Quiero que la gente me siga viendo por mis destrezas en el boxeo, mi carácter y mi buena conducta deportiva.
“Pero también quiero que los niños que sufren de ‘bullying’ sepan que pueden ser quienes quieran ser en la vida, incluyendo un boxeador profesional. Que cualquier cosa es posible, pero sobre todo que quien eres y a quien amas no sean impedimentos para lograr lo que sea en la vida.
“Quiero agradecer a mi familia, especialmente a mi Mamá, quien es mi inspiración y mi razón para vivir, así como a mi hermano y mi hermana. Quiero agradecer a mis amigos por su amor y apoyo. Y quiero también agradecer a mi equipo por creer en mi y apoyarme siempre, no tan sólo en esta decisión, sino a través de mi carrera.”Soy y siempre seré un orgulloso hombre gay puertorriqueño.”
Cruz ha estado boxeando por más de 24 años y ha representado a Puerto Rico en los Juegos Panamericanos, los Juegos Centroamericanos, la Copa Mundial y las Olimpiadas.Como aficionado, peleó 189 combates, ganando 178 de éstos. Ahora, como un boxeador profesional, ha peleado en 21 combates, con 9 KOs y sólo 2 derrotas. Actualmente es el Campeón Latino de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo y está en el lugar #4 a nivel mundial en el peso pluma (126 libras).
Below are the links to Orlando Cruz Fight Videos:
