WASHINGTON - On behalf of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), former World Wrestling champion Hulk Hogan sent boxer Roy Jones Jr. a letter urging him to "lay off defenseless animals" and "give up cockfighting." Jones recently bought a major cockfighting arena in Louisiana, where staged fights are conducted in front of several hundred attendees who engage in illegal gambling. Louisiana is one of only two states where fighting roosters is still legal.
"Hulk Hollywood Hogan" was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Sylvester Stallone on April 2. Hogan is a hero to millions of "Hulkamaniacs" and arguably the biggest name in the history of professional wrestling. Jones has boxing titles in four different weight divisions and is now a commentator for HBO Sports.
Hogan, who shares his home with a number of animals including a rooster named Lily, says he understands "the thrill of being in a ring." But he draws the line at cockfighting, an activity in which two roosters are pumped full of steroids, thrown into a pit with razors strapped to their legs, and forced to fight with deadly injuries, often until death.
Hogan says in his letter to Jones, "Cockfighting is bloody and violent and – unlike in our sports – the fighters often die. That's why I'm no fan of cockfights."
Jones recently purchased a cockfighting pit, "Pearl of the Bayou," near Franklinton, Louisiana. Jones also raises roosters on his farm in Pensacola, Florida, where he resides.
"How does someone who once captured the WBA heavyweight boxing title of the world end-up fighting birds?" writes Hogan. "Cockfighting is cruel. It's not a sport. And it's not something a champion like you should be involved in."
"It is astonishing that Roy Jones, Jr. has allowed himself to emerge as one of the leading figures in the despicable industry of cockfighting, now owning one of the major cockfighting arenas in the country," says Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "We applaud Hulk Hogan for recognizing the difference between entertainment and cruelty and calling on Jones to stop making victims of animals."
Last December The HSUS asked HBO to sanction Jones if he did not give up his cockfighting activities. HBO has said they are reviewing the issue.
The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection organization with nearly nine million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS protects all animals through education, advocacy, litigation, investigation, legislation and fieldwork. The non-profit organization is based in Washington, DC and has regional offices across the country. On the Web at www.hsus.org.
