State Senator says plan would save gamefowl industry

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Roosters could be boxing in Oklahoma under a plan by state Senator Frank Shurden. <br/><br/>Oklahoma voters banned cockfighting in 2002 and since then Shurden has sought a way to continue

Wednesday, January 26th 2005, 8:59 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Roosters could be boxing in Oklahoma under a plan by state Senator Frank Shurden.

Oklahoma voters banned cockfighting in 2002 and since then Shurden has sought a way to continue the gamefowl industry in the state. He says his search led him to Gamecock Boxing Incorporated, which was formed to promote a form of cockfighting that isn't deadly.

Gamecocks would wear sparring muffs, which are padded gloves placed over the spurs on their feet. The score would be kept by electronic sensors that record the number of hits by each rooster in the boxing match.

Shurden is introducing legislation to create the Oklahoma Pari-mutuel Gamecock Boxing Act and the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission would have jurisdiction over gamecock boxing.