By Mark Havey: Featherweight Orlando Cruz ( 18-2-1, KO’s 9) has become the first active fighter in the history of boxing to openly disclose to being gay. The talented Puerto Rican is presently ranked 4th by the WBO in the featherweight division.
Boxing, for so many years has been allied with the brave and ferocious. Men like Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson, Sonny Listen, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Tommy Hearns, Nigel Benn, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales, they all have that image. They are either ferocious or brave, or both.
I see boxers as modern day gladiators. The defining trait that a boxer needs is courage. But Courage isn’t determined by gender, religion, race or sexuality. Its determined by character. In fact you could say that Cruz has shown how brave he is by ‘coming out’ in a world controlled by the strong. This could lead to many more boxers doing the same. But it could lead to people refusing to fight or watch him. Fans of the sweet science will see it as a good thing, after all it will broaden the horizon for boxers coming through, who were once put off due to their predilection in partners. Fans of the brutality and savagery of boxing will be outraged. It contradicts the image they have of themselves and the sport they love. Fans of both, like me, won’t be concerned either way. Boxing isn’t in desperate need of Homosexuals, but neither will it be hurt by it. The personal life of boxers doesn’t interest me. I read about it but don’t take much notice. I prefer to concentrate on what I can actually see and know to be true. Interviews with the boxers themselves, statistics and fights are what interest me. seeing talent or lack of it. I don’t care if one boxer likes men or women, blondes or brunettes, black or white, who cares. Boxing isn’t a soap opera, its sport.
What is everyone’s thoughts on this? Please don’t turn it into a religious or moral debate. Keep the subject on boxing. personally I would hate to be prevented from doing something just because I wasn’t excepted or the same as other people. Boxing is a tough macho sport, but what someone does in their private life is irrelevant to boxing. if they have the ability then they are welcome, in my opinion. And even with my inadequate mathematical abilities, it’s safe to say that there has been thousands of homosexual boxers. Were they less tough?
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