TORONTO -- Patricio Manuel, the world鈥檚 first transgender professional boxer, has been named the new face of sporting goods company Everlast.
The company picked Manuel to lead their 鈥淏e First鈥� advertisement campaign.
鈥淲hen you deviate from the norms that society has constructed, you have to fight for that identity,鈥� Manuel says .
As a woman, Manuel was a USA National Amateur Boxing Champion and was invited to compete in the 2012 Olympic trials, according to CNN.
Manuel was unable to compete due to a shoulder injury, and during the recovery process, decided to begin his transition from female to male.
鈥淟iving your truth is going to hurt but it鈥檚 worth it,鈥� Manuel says in the video. 鈥淪o many of us are being forced into these restrictive boxes of identification, but very few of us actually fit.鈥�
Manuel competed for the first time after his transition in December last year and won his match against featherweight Hugo Aguilar.
