Puerto Rican boxer Orlando “The
Phenomenon” Cruz on Saturday won his second bout since coming out
as gay.
It was an emotional fight for Cruz who entered
the ring to fight Mexican boxer Aalan “The Bomber” Martinez
wearing his pride: A boxing kilt adorned with a Puerto Rican flag on
one side and on the other a rainbow flag, a symbol of gay pride.
Cruz won the bout at the Civic Center
in Kissimmee, Florida with a sixth-round technical knockout.
In a series of tweets, Cruz
messaged: “My thanks to God for giving me the victory
and for never abandoning my grandma and to her whom I felt next to me
the entire time. I love you old lady. To my work team, Puerto Rico,
the LGBT community, my people from Quintana and my family: Thanks for
being there and being part of my life. I love you and carry you with
me.”
According
to Blabbeando, Cruz went out of his way to display to the crowd
the rainbow flag on his trunks.
“When I went out with that
[rainbow-colored Dominican] flag I knew there was a chance I could be
arrested and that I would not get the help of the LGBT community, but
even though I knew I was at risk it didn't really matter to me,” he
said in a
Facebook post. “I take strong stands because it is my hope
that when Dominicans read my words they'll want to change their
ways.”
At the end of the fight, Cruz's father
entered the ring and embraced him. The two men reportedly had been
on the outs since Cruz announced he's gay.