Orlando Cruz, the first openly gay fighter in professional boxing, missed his shot at the WBO lightweight title this weekend when he lost to reigning champ Terry Flanagan.

Cruz, who came out in 2012, had high hopes of becoming the sport's first out titleholder.

“When I look at my story, it makes me hopeful that more people will be inspired to come out,” Cruz said last week. “[But] right now, my focus is fully on the big fight.”

He even moved up classes, from super-featherweight to lightweight, to compete for the title.

But after a right hook from Flanagan put Cruz down went in the eighth round, the referee called the bout.

His loss in the ring was one thing, but online Cruz was subjected to immature and homophobic comments by so-called professionals in his industry.

British boxer Frankie Gavin tweeted before the match that he had "nothing against gay people" but that if he lost to a gay man he's be teased forever.

Then there was Peter Fury, uncle and trainer of controversial heavyweight Tyson Fury. He relished making fun of Cruz.

Cheering Flanagan’s victory, he claimed, "That's the difference between real men & half of something else."

Tyson Fury made headlines last year after declaring the legalization of homosexuality and abortion are handing mankind to the Devil.

We should note Flanagan himself didn't participate in any of this poor sportsmanship.

He called Orlando "brave" for coming out, but insisted "I’m not interested in either his sexuality or his personal life—I’m only interested in him as a boxer, as an opponent."