Puerto Rican Featherweight Orlando Cruz (20-2-1, 10 KOs) faces Orlando Salido (39-12-2, 27 KOs) this Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The bout—which is for the vacant WBO Featherweight title and is Cruz’s first career title bout—will be featured on the undercard of the Timothy Bradley vs. Juan Manuel Marquez pay-per-view fight.
Cruz made headlines a year ago when he made the decision to announce he is gay.
Since then, he has opened up about his sexuality, relationship and his upcoming wedding.
I caught up with Cruz during a media workout at Mendez Boxing Gym in Manhattan as he trained for his upcoming championship bout in Las Vegas.
Round By Round Boxing: Orlando, how you doing brother?
Orlando Cruz: Good, feeling very good.
RBRBoxing: Thank you for giving me this opportunity today to help you get your word out.
OC: No problem, I am happy for today.
RBRBoxing: OK, right to it. First off, I know you came out to the public that you were homosexual and I have seen by the pictures you post on Facebook and Instagram and see how happy you are.
RBRBoxing: Yes, I’m extremely happy.
RBRBoxing: Do you see yourself as a pioneer in this sport for what you did, being open and honest about your sexuality?
OC: Yeah you know, I am happy right now, you know the relationship is good, real comfortable, so everyone on my team and everyone in my family have shown great support. So now, I’m getting ready for the fight.
RBRBoxing: I know you dedicated the fight to Emile Griffith, did you ever have the opportunity to meet him?
OC: No, never, but I’ve seen the history. Emile was a great boxer, he’s a legend. So you know, October 12, my fight is a dedication to Emile Griffith and to the entire Griffith family.
RBRBoxing: When I was younger, I had the opportunity to spend time with Mr. Griffith as he often attended local events in Hudson County, NJ where I’m from. He was always nice and always helped out young boxers with pointers.
OC: You are lucky man, I heard stories and [have] seen history on Emile Griffith, so my dedication goes out to his family.
RBRBoxing: Do you see yourself as a role model for the next generation? For the kids coming up, wanting to play sports, but also who feel they may not be able to do it because of their sexuality?
OC: I want to lead by example, I want to be the motivation for the kids and for people to be themselves. I want people to be happy with life, for others to like them for how they are.
RBRBoxing: Do you see yourself as being a better fighter now that you opened up and do you feel as if a weight was lifted off your shoulders?
OC: Definitely, definitely. I don’t hide who I am anymore. I train 100 percent happy. It is more motivation for me to work and train harder.
RBRBoxing: How has the boxing community responded to you opening up?
OC: Support and respect. All boxing people, my Puerto Rican people, all my Latin people, just respect and support.
RBRBoxing: Your upcoming opponent, Orlando Salido, what do you think of him as a fighter?
OC: Salido is a straight [forward] fighter, he never stops coming at you. He never stops punching.
RBRBoxing: What’s your game plan for this fight?
OC: I don’t want to give away what I am doing, but I’m an intelligent fighter. I move around the ring, I am a good boxer. It’s important that I’m different and that I push the angles in the fight.
RBRBoxing: So you’re saying you see this more of a boxing match, to showcase your skill, rather than a brawl?
OC: Yes.
RBRBoxing: No chances of a brawl?
OC: No, don’t want to brawl in this fight.
RBRBoxing: What do you see as your plans after the fight?
OC: After the win, I will rest.
RBRBoxing: You see yourself as definitely winning the WBO Featherweight Title?
OC: Yes, definitely.
RBRBoxing: So are your plans are to keep defending the belt? Any chances of moving up to different weight classes?
OC: After the fight I will rest, then talk to my team. We will come up with a plan, then probably start off next year fighting.
While speaking with the media before his workout, Cruz spoke about his current mental state, saying, “I am very free, happy, and comfortable. Before I was scared, sometimes I would cry. I was waiting, but now I am different and I am happy.”
Cruz has been extremely courageous throughout this whole situation and he has confirmed with me that he will be getting married in New York this November.
Regarding Emile Griffith and Sexuality
I had an opportunity to spend time with Emile Griffith when I was younger. He lived in the Hudson County, NJ area for close to 30 years and was very active in the community while living there.
I first met him when I was working out at Union City Boxing Club in Union City, NJ. Emile attended plenty of events in Hudson County and attended an amateur boxing event outside of the gym.
He was announced to the crowd, and was greeted with a loud ovation. The head of UCBC, Joe Botti, explained to me who Emile was and his significance not only to the boxing community, but to also the country.
From the first time I met him, to the countless times I ran into him over the course of the next five years, he was always a kind, warm soul. A man that was willing to give pointers, was never mean, and was always willing to give his time to the kids of the community and to everything boxing.
It wasn’t until years later, when I found out about his sexual orientation, that I would sit there and recount the times I had sat and spoken to him.
I would never have known of his sexuality, and it did not bother me because he was still a man and a human being. Gay or straight, he was still someone I was extremely humbled to have ever been in the presence of.
Cruz, like Emile Griffith, is a boxer and a human being and his sexual orientation is his personal life. I look at Orlando Cruz the boxer, not Orlando Cruz the gay boxer.
This past August, Cruz made headlines again when he posted a video on Facebook asking his boyfriend to marry him. His boyfriend, Jose Manuel, happily accepted by posting his own video accepting the proposal
I am a fan of Orlando Cruz, not only because of his boxing skills, but for the strength he has had in revealing his sexual orientation. I am a fan for what Cruz has done for the Gay and Lesbian community, and in the end being happy with himself and finding someone to be happy with. I wish him the best of luck with his marriage and professional career.
Cruz has been a true gentleman and is extremely happy with life. Things can only get better for Cruz is he wins the WBO Featherweight belt this Saturday.
