Puerto Rican Olympian, Orlando Cruz, Comes Out As First Openly Gay Boxer in History

Professional boxer and former Puerto Rican Olympian Orlando Cruz announced Wednesday that he is "a proud gay man." Cruz is the first active pro boxer in history to come out as gay.

"I've been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself. 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," said Cruz in a statement.

"I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and always will be a proud gay man."

The 31-year-old Cruz has been a professional boxer since 2000. He is the fourth-ranked featherweight in the world, with a record of 18 wins, 2 losses and one draw, with nine knockouts. He represented Puerto Rico at the Sydney Olympic Games in Australia in 2000.

In 2009 and 2010 he lost back-to-back fights, the second to Daniel Ponce de León, who went on to win a world featherweight title this September.

Cruz won his next two matches, and he will face Jorge Pazos (20-4, 13 knockouts) on Oct. 19. The bout will be broadcast on Telemundo, which will also be airing an exclusive interview with Cruz next week. A win next month may put Cruz in line for a shot at a major title.

Few professional athletes are willing to admit their homosexuality, given the culture of machismo in most locker rooms. But times are changing. Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe printed a scathing and explicit letter in September reprimanding an anti-gay Maryland legislator and supporting gay-friendly comments by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo.

For his part, Cruz says he wants to be a better role model. "I don't want to hide any of my identities. I want people to look at me for the human being that I am," he said.

"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."

Below, watch Cruz deliver a devastating knockout in 2009.