Gay Boxer Orlando Cruz Proposed To His Boyfriend Over Facebook

Boxer Orlando Cruz poses for pictures after a training session at a public gym in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Oct. 4, 2012.

The first openly gay professional boxer, Puerto Rican Orlando Cruz made history last October when he came out declaring himself a “proud gay man.”

Now he’s making news for proposing to his boyfriend on Facebook.

“I want you to be part of my life and me be part of yours,” Cruz said in Spanish in a video released on his Facebook page.

His boyfriend Jose Manuel accepted in a similar video message.

“I accept marrying you because I love you and adore you,” Manuel said.

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Now that Cruz is setting milestones in his personal life, his professional career may soon take a historic turn — the 32-year-old will face Orlando Solido in October for the WBO featherweight championship.

“Now more than ever that I have an important fight coming up for the World Championship,” Cruz said in the proposal video, “I want to tell you that you are a very special person in my life.”

With a record of 20-2-1, Cruz could become the first active openly gay boxer to capture a championship.

The fight will take place in Las Vegas on October 12th.

Since revealing he is gay and being featured on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryan Gumbel,” other athletes have followed in his steps.

Robbie Roberts came out and retired from professional soccer before un-retiring and signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy. And NBA player Jason Collins also made headlines by coming out; he is a free agent and has yet to be signed by a team.