The story coming into Orlando Cruz vs. Orlando Salido was Cruz being the first active boxer to come out as gay. Lost in the more interesting human interest story -- and it should be noted that Cruz’s story was interesting, inspirational and important in the larger context of professional sports -- was the fact that Salido was, without a doubt, the better fighter coming into the ring.
Bradley vs Marquez results: Orlando Salido outclasses Orlando Cruz to win WBO featherweight title
Orlando Cruz, boxing’s first openly gay fighter, came up well short in his bid for the WBO featherweight title, getting knocked out in round seven by Orlando Salido.
Ethan Miller
Tonight was not a case of the fight’s “on paper” look being misleading, Orlando Salido dominated the fight from the opening bell, throwing harder punches and being much more active.
Cruz was game throughout the fight, trying to get his offense going, but Salido has been in with, and beaten, better fighters.
By round five it appeared that there really was nothing Cruz could do to get the fight going his way. In round six and early in round seven Cruz tried to make his stand, but Salido just kept punching and walking through him.
In round seven, Cruz got hit with a heavy combination, went down to a knee and then fell face first onto the canvas, not answering the ten count.
With the win, Salido captured the vacant WBO featherweight title and improved to 40-12-2, 28 KO while Cruz fell to 20-3-1.
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