Orlando Cruz : ‘I’m gay, but I’m also a boxer. This is my time’

Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz is preparing for the biggest fight of his career. He also hopes to break another barrier in professional boxing.

Cruz will challenge Mexico’s Orlando Salido for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight championship Saturday night in Las Vegas. If he wins, he could become the first openly gay male boxer to capture a major professional world title.

In an Oct. 11, 2013, profile published by The Guardian, reporter Donald McRae followed Cruz through his training camp in Buffalo, New York. McRae documented the fighter’s demanding preparation and his newfound freedom after publicly coming out.

Orlando Cruz Embraces Life After Coming Out

McRae described a Saturday night in downtown Buffalo when Cruz looked out the car window after an exhausting day at the gym. The boxer had sparred 12 rounds against four opponents.

Despite his demanding schedule, Cruz wanted a brief break from training. He joked about Buffalo’s limited gay nightlife and its four gay bars.

Cruz had publicly announced he was gay in October 2012. A year later, he appeared more comfortable discussing his identity openly.

According to McRae’s reporting, Cruz no longer felt the same pressure to conceal his sexuality. Instead, he could focus more fully on his boxing career.

That freedom carried special meaning in a sport long associated with traditional ideas of masculinity.

A World Title Fight With Historic Stakes

Cruz viewed the upcoming championship as an opportunity to challenge stereotypes about gay athletes. He wanted to prove that his sexuality did not define his abilities as a fighter.

However, he faced a formidable opponent. Salido had 53 professional fights and previously held both the International Boxing Federation and WBO featherweight championships.

Cruz entered the bout with 20 victories, two losses and one draw. The 32-year-old Puerto Rican understood the challenge ahead.

McRae reported that Cruz also drew inspiration from former world champion Emile Griffith. Griffith, who publicly acknowledged his bisexuality later in life, faced discrimination during his boxing career.

Cruz planned to dedicate his fight to Griffith and the broader LGBTQ+ community.

“I’m gay, but I’m also a boxer. This is my time,” Cruz told McRae, expressing the confidence behind his historic championship bid.