Orland Cruz proudly Puerto Rican.

Orlando Cruz 'proudly gay'
Updated: October 4, 2012, 10:21 AM ET
ESPN.com news services


Orlando Cruz, the No. 4 ranked WBO featherweight fighter, has released a statement saying that he "is a proudly gay man."

"I've been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself," Cruz said in the statement. "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 has a professional record of 18-2-1 with nine knockouts and is scheduled to fight Oct. 19 in a WBO NABO title defense against Jorge Pazos in Kissimmee, Fla.

Cruz represented Puerto Rico in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/8460484/puerto-rican-featherweight-orlando-cruz-proudly-gay

i read that on espn.i guess he needed to get that off his chest and feels better now since he did.again its not the lifestyle i encourage or approve of but none the less its fact that a portion of us humans are gay bisexual etc etc.i comend his courage in doing so like i did anderson cooper for doing the same thing.judge folks on the type of person they are and there competence in what they do and not what they are.
i hope that since hes got this out of the way he can move foward in life without any predudice or malice towards him.i wish him luck on that for sure.

Why does there have to be a dramatic announcement?

If you are gay, you don't have to be in the closet, but you don't have to announce it to the world either.

I am proud of the guy. I don't agree with his preferences but I takes a lot of heart and integrity to do what Cruz did. It must be respected.

BTW, in a related topic, why isn't Emile Griffith one of the all-timers immortalized on this board? He certainly has the resume...

What's the big whoop? 90% of the female boxers are gay.

koolkc107 wrote:I am proud of the guy. I don't agree with his preferences but I takes a lot of heart and integrity to do what Cruz did. It must be respected.

BTW, in a related topic, why isn't Emile Griffith one of the all-timers immortalized on this board? He certainly has the resume...

it seems weird that griffith isnt ever talked about in sports since he may be the greatest sports figure who was gay.