While the NFL continues to be split on how to tackle the issue of gays in sports (and it’s interesting to note supporters are all hot hunks while the homophobes would be safe even in a room full of blind gay men), the arena where homosexuality was least expected to make an appearance, professional boxing, now has its very own internationally ranked gay boxer. Featherweight Orlando Cruz came out via a press release late Wednesday night, becoming the first professional boxer to acknowledge that he plays for the pink team.

Rumors about the sexuality of professional boxers are nothing new. Floyd Mayweather Jr., Lennox Lewis, Fernando Vargas, Hector “Macho” Camacho, and Juan Manuel Marquez have all been called out for being gay, sometimes as a homophobic slur by opponents, sometimes because fans believe the stories are true. But in a sport where calling your opponent a faggot hardly inspires even the blink of an eye, actually admitting to being gay is not considered the path to fame, fortune, and riches. Golden Boy Oscar Dela Hoya chose to blame a series of photo of him in drag on drug use rather than confirm the rumors about his sexuality that have followed him throughout his career. Perhaps with Cruz’s announcement the inability of professional boxers to openly be who they really are that will change.

In his press release Cruz, much like fellow Puerto Rican Ricky Martin in his coming out statement, said he is proud to be a gay man. Unlike Martin, Cruz has acknowledge his preference for men while at the peak of his career: he is trying to make a run at a world title.

Currently ranked as the #4 featherweight by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), the 31-year-old Southpaw represented Puerto Rico at the 2000 Olympics as a Bantamweight (now adding to that Games gay athlete count and making it the gayest games in history). He began his professional career in late 2000 with a 16-0-1 record and did not lose a match until 2009. Today Cruz is 18-2-1 with nine career knockouts. Nicknamed ‘The Phenomenon’, Cruz is scheduled to fight Jorge Pazos on October 19th in Florida.

”I’ve been boxing for over 24 years and as I continue my upward career, I want to be true to myself. I try to be the best example I can be for children who see boxing as a sport and as a career,“ Cruz said in his press release, adding his announcement was due to him being tired of hiding who he really is. “I have always been and will remain a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and will remain a proud gay man. I do not hide any of my identities. I want people to see me for the man I am. I’m a professional athlete who always brings his best to the ring. I want people to continue seeing me for my skills in boxing, my character and good sportsmanship.”

How his sport responds will be interesting. Cruz is not a major figure in boxing, although he’s not unknown, either. In 2009 he fought on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez pay-per-view match, gaining some international recognition, and again appeared on HBO in his match against Daniel Ponce De Leon. The 5’4” Latino has knocked out nine other men to get where he is in his career today, so his announcement can not be viewed as some unqualified no-name pugilist trying to get attention. His next few fights will be instrumental in determining his future, both by whether he wins those matches or not and which other ranked boxers are willing to sign to fight against him. Homophobia within the boxing world could prevent Cruz from a shot at the title regardless of how he performs. It remains to be seen if his fellow boxers are manly enough to fight against an openly gay boxer.

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