Smallscreen News
WBO Latin Featherweight Title features first openly gay boxer (VIDEO)
By April MacIntyre Oct 18, 2012, 5:55 GMT
The Bout is Orlando Cruz\' First After Publicly Announcing His Homosexuality to Telemundo’s Jessi Losada and Becoming the First Active, Openly Gay Boxer in History
Tune in alert from NBCU for the WBO Latin featherwight title between Orlando Cruz and Jorge Pazos for Friday, October 19 at 11:35 PM ET/PT, 10:35 PM CT.
The Bout is Orlando Cruz' First After Publicly Announcing His Homosexuality to Telemundo’s Jessi Losada and Becoming the First Active, Openly Gay Boxer in History
From NBCU
“Boxeo Telemundo” will present the exclusive live broadcast of the World Boxing Organization (WBO)’s Latin Featherweight Title fight between the current champion, Puerto Rico’s Orlando “The Phenomenon” Cruz (18-2-1; 9 KOs) and Mexico’s Jorge “The Ferocious” Pazos (20-4; 13 KOs) this Friday, October 19 at 11:35 PM ET/PT, 10:35 PM CT from the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida.
The 12-round fight, featuring blow-by-blow narration by René Giraldo and commentary and analysis by sportscaster Jessi Losada, will be Cruz' first bout after publicly announcing his homosexuality in an exclusive interview to Losada for “Titulares Telemundo” on October 3rd in Puerto Rico, becoming the first active, openly gay boxer in history.
“This is the first time an openly gay boxer is defending his title,” said Losada. “More than merely a match, we are witnessing a historic event with implications that go beyond boxing and that will have an enormous impact on the future of sports in general. It is also the most important fight in Orlando Cruz’s career. If he beats Jorge Pazos, he could be one step away from a world championship bout.”
Orlando “Phenomenon” Cruz, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is currently fourth in the WBO’s world ranking and has held the organization’s Latin Featherweight Title since October 14 of last year, when he took it away from Mexican Alejandro “Pique” Delgado.
Cruz’s challenger, Jorge “The Ferocious” Pazos, is from Guamuchil, Sinaloa. The Mexican fighter has 13 KOs to his credit, 10 of which he obtained in the first three rounds.
Orlando Cruz’s exclusive interview with Jessi Losada on “Titulares Telemundo.”
