Noel Gallagher Rescues Dog, Helps Boxer

11/19/08 4:02pm

Noel Gallagher is being hailed as a hero after apparently preventing a dognapping near his London, England home.

The Oasis guitarist stepped in when some youths wearing hoods tried to take a black Labrador Retriever that was tied up outside a supermarket earlier this month.

Gallagher recognized the dog as one belonging to one of his neighbours, 58-year-old actress Caroline Munro, who may be best known for her portrayal of a helicopter pilot named Naomi in the 1977 James Bond flick, The Spy Who Loved Me. The youngsters fled when confronted by the brawl-loving Gallagher, according to a report in Britain's The Mirror newspaper.

"Noel was so brave," an unnamed neighbour said. "The blokes could have been carrying knives, but he just didn't care.

"He's a tough bloke and he doesn't like people taking what isn't theirs. So he tackled them and they quickly did one."

Tackled? Maybe Noel learned a thing or two when he was attacked on stage at the Toronto Virgin Festival in September.

Oasis haven't landed a James Bond movie theme song, which Gallagher yearns to do, but maybe helping out a former Bond girl will help earn him consideration in the future.

Noel and his younger brother Liam will also help British boxer Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton by carrying his Ring Magazine and International Boxing Organization light welterweight championship belts into the ring when he fights Paul Malignaggi at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday.

"When I think of the most important things in my life, there's my family first, and Campbell my son, then I've got boxing and Manchester City, and then it's Oasis," Hatton told The Mirror. "So to have Noel and Liam carry my belts into the ring is ticking off another dream for me, really."

It's too bad that Gallagher didn't have Hatton in his corner at the Virgin Festival. He could've avoided some smashed ribs and a cancelled tour.