Would've been more of a story if dude wasn't a featherweight.
http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/8460484/puerto-rican-featherweight-orlando-cruz-comes-proud-gay-manFeatherweight Orlando Cruz, a 2000 Puerto Rican Olympian and a fringe contender as a professional fighter, has done something unusual in boxing, or in any professional sport: He said he is gay.
Cruz, 31, the first openly gay fighter, released a statement on Wednesday calling himself a "proud 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. "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 (18-2-1, 9 KOs), a pro since December 2000, lost back-to-back fights in 2009 and 2010, getting knocked out in the fifth round by Cornelius Lock and then in the third round by Daniel Ponce De Leon, who won a world featherweight title on Sept. 15.
Cruz won his next two bouts and is scheduled to face Jorge Pazos (20-4, 13 KOs) on Oct. 19 in the main event of a Telemundo-televised card from Kissimmee, Fla.
Cruz said in his statement that he was tired of hiding who he really was.
"I don't want to hide any of my identities," he said. "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."