Boxing made headlines last Fall for something other than an actual fight when Featherweight Orlando Cruz announced that he was gay. It’s been less than a year later and Cruz is making headlines in the boxing world again. Again it isn’t for a fight.
USA Today is reporting that Cruz proposed to his boyfriend Jose Manuel with a video that he posted on his Facebook profile. It was all in Spanish but was translated to this:
“I wanted to tell you how much I need you and how much I miss you. I know you are a person that means a lot to me and that supports my career and respects it which is very important, but above all you are always there giving me that push that I need. Now more than ever that I have an important fight coming up for the World Championship. I want to tell you that you are a very special person in my life. I am a little nervous, but I want to tell you and share with your friends and my friends if you want to marry me. I want you to be part of my life and me be part of yours.”
Cruz’s boyfriend Manuel responded to the proposal with the following:
“I want to say yes. I accept marrying you because I love you and adore you. Yes, I do want to marry you because I love you, I love you, I love you very much. We will keep going forward and you will see how happy we will be. I love you papi from my heart.”
Cruz is set to face Orlando Salido for the WBO featherweight title on October 12th in Las Vegas. Him and Manuel seem very happy, and it’s a good sign for the gay community that Cruz is open with his sexuality and still being accepted in the sports world, especially that of the boxing community.
Relaxing with him. He is the spectacular. I love my life, Thanks God for another day and the big opportunity. pic.twitter.com/eyRhpe2lwS
— The Phenomenom. (@ElFenomenoCruz) July 4, 2013