CARDIFF, Wales — Orlando Cruz of Puerto Rico will have to wait to become the first openly gay boxer to win a world title after being stopped in the eighth round by WBO lightweight champion Terry Flanagan on Saturday.
Flanagan, a British fighter, improved his professional record to 32-0 with a successful fourth defense of the belt by knocking Cruz to the canvas twice in the same round in Cardiff.
Referee Steve Gray called a halt to proceedings after a powerful right hand from Flanagan.
This was the 35-year-old Cruz’s 10th bout since declaring his homosexuality in public in 2012, but it was his first in this weight class. His record dropped to 25-5-1.
