Orlando Cruz, a current world-ranked featherweight contender by the WBO and former Puerto Rican Olympian, has announced that he's a gay man, which I believe makes him the first openly gay active boxer in history.

Cruz, 31, is currently ranked No. 4 in the world by the WBO at 126 pounds, and has a pro record of 18-2-1 with nine knockout wins, and has won twice since back-to-back losses to Cornelius Lock and Daniel Ponce De Leon in 2009-10. His biggest pro fight to date was against Lock, which took place on the Mayweather-Marquez pay-per-view on September 19, 2009.

Here's what Cruz said in a press release:

"I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself. I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career. I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and always will be a proud gay man."

Cruz was part of the 2000 Puerto Rican Olympic team with such notable names as Miguel Cotto and Ivan Calderon. He'll speak with Telemundo for a TV interview that will air next week.