Orlando Cruz (20-2-1, 10 KOs) will utilize his title shot and being on the biggest fight card of his career to show his support for two different causes Saturday Night when he takes on Orlando Salido (39-12-2, 27 KOs).
Cruz, who is boxing’s first openly gay fighter, will don pink gloves to show his support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and rainbow colored trunks to show his support of the LGBT community
The bout, which will be on the undercard of the Timothy Bradley-Juan Manuel Marquez HBO pay-per-view card at the Thomas Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev., will be for the vacant WBO featherweight title.
This will be Cruz’s biggest fight of his career and the outlandish outfit may overshadow his career achievement if he is to win his first world title belt this weekend.
Showing that he has no problem with a career defining moment being over taken to bring awareness to a pair or worthy causes shows, unlike many fighters in the age of the super ego, he doesn’t always put himself first.
The outfit is already causing a stir among the boxing community and the topic will only grow after he makes his appearance in the ring Saturday night.
There is sure to be a few ignorant hecklers in the Thomas and Mack Center and on the internet who will display their dislike for the outfit being worn in a sport that is known to be one of, if not the most “manly” sports.
No matter how it’s received, you have to give Cruz kudos for having the guts to advertise two worthwhile causes in a flamboyant in an industry that is known for its bravado.
