Brinkley to fight on Friday

RENO -- Two of Reno's most popular fighters, Jesse Brinkley of Yerington and Joey Gilbert, are heading to the Eldorado Hotel-Casino on a Top Rank card Friday, June 7.

Martin Castillo, who was originally scheduled to be on the card, will not fight in the event.

Brinkley is a 17-1 middleweight. Gilbert, a Nevada Golden Gloves champion, is a 2-0 super welterweight prospect from Reno.

Brinkley is trained by Miguel Diaz who has worked with many

world champions.

"I see progress all the time with Jesse," Diaz said. "He's a

hard worker and he's got a good ticker, a real will to win. I like

that."

On this card, Brinkley is scheduled for a six-round bout.

Gilbert is a student at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in

San Diego.

"As an athlete, I'm very disciplined and I work out five days a week," Gilbert said. "I'm excited about going into the Eldorado."

Gilbert was 27-1 as an amateur and won a Nevada Golden Gloves state title in 2000. He is scheduled for a four-round bout at the Eldorado.

Also appearing in the main events are flyweights Jose Carita Lopez vs. Alejandro Moreno; former world flyweight champion Jorge Arce vs. Ramon Hurtado; and hot prospect Jose Aguiniga of Oxnard, Calif. will fight a six-round bout.

The five-bout card begins in the Eldorado Convention Center at

5:15 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, $30, $40 and $50. The Telefutura telecast begins at 6 p.m. local time.

Castillo, a Mexican Olympian from Hacienda Heights, Calif., is 21-1 with 13 knockouts. He's ranked third in the International Boxing Federation and fourth in the World Boxing Organization at 115 pounds. His only loss came in a controversial six-round technical decision to IBF champion Felix Machado of Reading, Pa. in a world title bout. Castillo was scheduled to fight in a 10-round bout on Friday.