Joey Gilbert


Joseph Salvatore Gilbert is a retired professional boxer, currently a criminal defense & personal injury lawyer, sports agent, and motivational speaker.

Biography

Gilbert was born in Chicago, Illinois, but was raised in Sparks, Nevada. Gilbert graduated from the University of Nevada with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, double majoring in English Literature and Political Science, with an emphasis on foreign affairs and minored in Italian studies. Gilbert spent 6 months living, training and traveling in northern Europe during the summer and fall of 1998 through a study abroad program based in Torino, Italy.
Gilbert was a collegiate fighter at the University of Nevada, National Champion from 1998 through 2000, a four-time Regional Champion, a four-time All American, and was the Nevada State Golden Gloves Super Middleweight Champion in 2000.
Gilbert earned his J.D. degree from Thomas Jefferson Law School in San Diego, California, and passed the Nevada bar exam in 2004. He has practiced law since that time in numerous areas; however, he focuses on criminal and civil trial practice and specific areas of sports and entertainment law. His law firm, Joey Gilbert & Associates, focuses on many aspects of criminal defense including personal injury, DUI defense, workers compensation, criminal law and immigration law.

Boxing career

Gilbert began boxing as an amateur at the University of Nevada, Reno. During his time at the University of Nevada, Gilbert was a three-time National Champion, a four-time Regional Champion, a four-time All American, and was the Nevada State Golden Gloves Super Middleweight Champion in 2000. He finished his amateur career with a record of 27-1.
In 2004, Gilbert was cast on NBC's reality TV show The Contender. He was placed on the West Coast Team and beat Jimmy Lange in the first round of this competition. He then had his friend turned rival Jesse Brinkley place him in a fight against Peter Manfredo in the Quarter Finals, which he lost in a divided decision. The fight was stopped in the fifth round due to an accidental head-butt from his opponent.
After The Contender, Gilbert won a 6 round unanimous decision in the super middleweight division against James North on the undercard of the Jeff Lacy vs. Scott Pemberton card. Gilbert won the rematch with Jimmy Lange at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA for the vacant middleweight NABO title on February 18 and won the WBC-USNBC middleweight title shortly after.
On September 21, 2007, Gilbert scored a first round knockout over Charles Howe, however, the ruling was later changed to a no-decision.
On February 14, 2009, Gilbert challenged former rival Jesse Brinkley for the WBC USNBC super middleweight title, but was defeated by unanimous decision.
After suffering a 6th round technical knockout loss to former IBF light middleweight champion, Kassim Ouma, Gilbert retired from professional boxing in 2010 and now practices criminal defense and personal injury law in Reno, NV.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
24Loss20–3 Kassim OumaTKO6, 0:592010-09-25 Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada, USAFor vacant WBA-NABA Middleweight title.
23Win20–2 Billy BaileyUD82010-07-03 Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada, USA
22Win19–2 Anthony BartinelliTKO7, 0:402010-05-22 Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada, USA
21Win18–2 Ivan StovallKO5, 1:052009-08-29 Churchill County Fairgrounds, Fallon, Nevada, USA
20Loss17–2 Jesse BrinkleyUD122009-02-14 Reno Events Center, Reno, Nevada, USAFor WBC United States Super middleweight title.
19Win17–1 William JohnsonKO2, 1:182008-11-20 Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie, Maryland, USA
18Win16–1 Dan WallaceTKO2, 1:592008-10-30 Martin's Valley Mansion, Cockeysville, Maryland, USA
17ND15–1 Charles Howe1, 2:162007-09-21 Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada, USARetained WBC United States Middleweight title.
Originally TKO win for Gilbert; overturned to a No Decision after he failed his post-fight drug test.
16Win15–1 Juan AstorgaTKO10, 1:472007-05-12 Reno Events Center, Reno, Nevada, USAWon vacant WBC United States Middleweight title.
15Win14–1 Michi MunozUD122007-03-02 MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa, Stateline, Nevada, USARetained WBO-NABO Middleweight title.
14Win13–1 Keith SimsTKO6, 1:572006-10-11 Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, USARetained WBO-NABO Middleweight title.
13Win12–1 Jason AakerKO1, 2:502006-08-05 MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa, Stateline, Nevada, USA
12Win11–1 Jimmy LangeTKO3, 2:522006-02-18 Patriot Center, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USAWon vacant WBO-NABO Middleweight title.
11Win10–1 James NorthUD62005-11-05 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, USA
10Loss9–1 Peter Manfredo Jr.5, 2:342004-09-07 Pasadena, California, USA
9Win9–0 Jimmy LangeUD52004-09-07 Pasadena, California, USA
8Win8–0 Farid Shahid62004-07-10 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, USA
7Win7–0 Kirk DouglasTKO4, 1:502004-04-24 Hilton Hotel Reno, Reno, Nevada, USA
6Win6–0 Thomas HainesTKO1, 2:012004-03-27 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, USA
5Win5–0 Tony SanzaTKO1, 2:142003-11-22 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, USA
4Win4–0 Travis BiechlerTKO1, 2:412002-07-26 Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
3Win3–0 Timothy RobinsonTKO2, 1:552002-06-07 Eldorado Resort Casino, Reno, Nevada, USA
2Win2–0 Tony Sanza1, 2:362001-07-20 Harrah's Hotel & Casino, Reno, Nevada, USA
1Win1–0 Miguel Angel Lopez2, 2:472000-06-16 Harrah's Hotel & Casino, Reno, Nevada, USAProfessional debut.

Get Active Foundation

Gilbert has developed a foundation that focuses on a comprehensive strategic plan to help children and young adults develop good judgment, self-confidence, and motivation. This foundation is called Children's Leadership & Awareness Initiative. The Children's Leadership & Awareness Initiative was designed specifically to assist children and young adults in developing and implementing their own successful “Operating Systems.” Gilbert has worked with children of all ages and backgrounds. Through his extensive interaction with children, Gilbert recognized that most young people today have three significant problems: a lack of good judgment, a lack of self-confidence, and a lack of motivation or will power. One does not need endless statistics or university studies to know that there is an intimate connection between an individual's judgment, confidence, motivation, and his or her success in life. Providing children and young adults with a program to help develop these characteristics is a core purpose of The Joey Gilbert Foundation.
This Foundation has increasingly developed into the Get Active Foundation that includes all of the above aspects and focuses on the aspects of young people's lives including: community involvement, fitness, personal confidence, drug awareness and volunteering.