The Latino featherweight champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), Orlando “The Phenomenon” Cruz (20-2-1, 10KOs) is very exciting with the WBO’s recent decision, which orders him to fight former champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (39-12-2, 27KOs) for the vacant featherweight title. Cruz withdrew from a scheduled fight on June 28th to focus on facing Salido in the fall. The belt became vacant when Mikey Garci was unable to make weight for last month’s fight with Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez.
Cruz, who last October revealed that he was a homosexual, wants to become the first openly gay champion in boxing history.
“That title is going back to Puerto Rico before the end of 2013. I will be the first openly gay champion in history and that will be great. I was honestly taken by surprise with the decision announced by the president of the WBO, Francisco (Paco) Valc?rcel. If he had said that I would have had to fight with ‘King Kong’ – I will would do it. I have great respect for Orlando Salido. I have had the opportunity to speak with him on several occasions and I have respect for him. But I think he never faced an opponent like me, slippery, and a good counter-puncher. I have all the features,” Cruz told Carlos Narvaez.
