COCKEYSVILLE, MD - Reno, Nevada’s Joey Gilbert made his successful return to the ring after a thirteen month absence last night with a devastating second round knockout of Michigan’s Daniel Wallace in the main event of the Jonathan Ogden Foundation Charity Boxing show last night.

Gilbert, raising his record to 16-1 with 12 knockouts, was able to hold off Wallace’s initial rush and score points in the first round using solid counter punching. In the second round, a succession of power shots from Gilbert sent Wallace backing into the ropes and amidst a flurry of unanswered power shots from the Reno , Nevada resident, the bout was stopped at 1:59 of the second round by referee Kenny Chevalier. The loss moved Wallace's record to 9-7 (3KO's).

“I was a little rusty which is to be expected but I thought my defense was very good. We worked on some things in training which truly helped tonight” said Gilbert who added that he hoped to be back in the ring in the near future.

The highly anticipated showdown bout between Gilbert and fellow Contender alum Jesse Brinkley is expected to take place on

January 30th in Northern Nevada. Further details are expected to be announced shortly.

AKAASH BHATIA is being tipped to become Britain's best known Asian boxer.
 
The Sikh warrior faces his toughest test to date when he meets former British title challenger Marc Callaghan at Wigan's Robin Park Arena on November 7.
 
Provided he comes through the toughest test of his short professional career, the Harrow hard man will target British featherweight champion Paul Appleby.
 
Bhatia's, promoter Frank Maloney declared: "The time has come to take the reins off.
"I believe Akaash could become the best known British Asian sportsman now that we all know Amir Khan is no longer invincible."
 
In 2007, Bhatia was named the 'Most Up and Coming Sports Personality of the Year' at the prestigious Sony Entertainment Television Asia Sports Personality of the Year Awards.
 
And his stock continued to rise recently when he became the only boxer to be appointed as an ambassador to the Prince's Youth Trust.
 
'Kash the Bash', 25, is unbeaten in 12 fights and his showdown against Barking's Callaghan is his fourth contest of 2008.
 
Callaghan (19-14-1) has mixed at the highest level.. In his last four fights the former English champ has given problems to Esham Pickering, Rendall Munroe, Martin Lindsay and Paul Hyland.
 
Maloney added: "This is a big step up in class for Akaash, but I believe this is the right fight at the right time."
 
Top of the bill on the Sky Sports televised show is Andy Bell's British super-flyweight title defence against Bristol southpaw Lee Haskins in a real battle between a pair of little big men.
 
Tickets can be purchased by calling 0871 226 1508 or by logging on to www.frankmaloney.com

LAS VEGAS – NABF light welterweight champion Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa, recently signed to a promotional contract by Roy Jones, Jr.’s Square Ring Promotions, will now take on the unofficial gatekeeper of the light welterweight division, veteran Emanuel “Drunken Master” Augustus, in the opening bout on the November 8th Jones-Calzaghe HBO PPV card at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Figueroa (19-2, 13 KOs) had been in Las Vegas training to fight his original opponent, former WBA light welterweight  champion Gavin “The Rock” Rees, who pulled out of the fight with a broken nose. 

Nicknamed “El Gato” – The Cat – because he was the only one quick enough to catch a cat that was a mascot at his original gym in the Bronx, Frankie is now matched against the unorthodox Augustus, who participated in ESPN’s Fight of the Decade against Micky Ward, in a 8/10-round non-title fight.

“I’m very happy to be fighting Emanuel Augustus,” Figueroa said. “We were having a tough time finding a good opponent. He stepped up and I’m not afraid to fight anybody. He’s an entertaining fighter and together we’ll give fans what they really want to see. The change of opponent doesn’t mean anything to me. I’ll be fully focused on Augustus, execute my plan, and come out victorious.”

The 30-year-old Figueroa, a Puerto Rican-American born in Spanish Harlem, not too long ago was counseling rebellious teens in New York City. He was a 2-time New York City high school wrestler, 14-0 as a senior, who didn’t start boxing until eight years ago after taking advice from a friend. A U.S. Army veteran rated No. 4 by the WBC, No. 5 by the IBF and No. 15 by the WBA, Figueroa’s coming off of a by 12-round decision against Luis Rodriquez (22-1) last May, extending Frankie’s win streak to 11 that dates back to March of 2005.

Augustus’ misleading 38-29-6 (20 KOs) record includes many fights against a virtual Who’s Who of the light welterweight division. He has been stopped only three times in 73 pro fights, the last time in 2000 against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. During his 14-year pro career, Augustus has upset “Sucra” Ray Oliveira and Alex Trujillo, fought a draw with the late Leavender Johnson, and been in against, among the more notables in addition to Mayweather and Ward, the likes of Herman Ngoudjo, David Diaz, Antonio Diaz, John John Molina, Ivan Robinson, Diosbelys Hurtado and Leonard Dorin.

For more information about Frankie Figueroa visit his web site at www.teamgato.com , where you can enter a sweepstakes to win what he’s wearing in the ring Nov. 8 as well as a cash prize by simply filling out the mailing list form on the home page.