Orlando Cruz (March Fight vs Aalan Martinez)

Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz punches Mexican boxer Aalan Martinez during the fifth round before a sixth-round knockout at the Kissimmee Civic Center on March 15, 2013 in Kissimmee, Fla. 

A few months back, It caught my eye that boxer Orlando Cruz was boxing locally. Cruz. from Puerto Rico, is the first openly gay boxer.  This was his second fight since coming out last October. I called my editors and photographed the workout and then the fight.

It was the marquee matchup and was by far the best of the night.

More after the jump....

Boxing, Pt 1

Luis Olivares fights Victor Vega before winning in a first-round technical knockout at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida on Friday March 15, 2013.  Olivares' win was his second while fighting for SMS Promotions, owned by Rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.  (David Manning/DavidManningPhoto.com)

So I photographed boxing for the first time several months ago here locally at the Kissimmee Civic Center, mostly for the Orlando Cruz fight later that night. I photographed all of the undercards and here's the best of those.

More, as always, after the jump....