Joseph Salvatore Gilbert (b. June 5, 1976, Chicago) is a retired professional boxer, currently a criminal defense & personal injury lawyer, sports agent, and motivational speaker.

Biography

Joey Gilbert was born in Chicago, Illinois, but moved with his family to Sparks, Nevada. He attended Our Lady of the Snows Parochial School from 5th-8th grade. Joey then attended and graduated from Bishop Manogue Catholic High School in Reno, Nevada. Joey graduated from the University of Nevada with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, double majoring in English Literature & 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.

Despite working three jobs, Gilbert was a collegiate fighter at the University of Nevada, 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.

Joey earned his Juris Doctorate (JD-Law 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.

In 2004, Gilbert was cast in NBC's The Contender, working along side Sylvester Stallone, Sugar Ray Leonard and a mass of talented boxers and was introduced to Hollywood's elite. This experience has allowed Gilbert to gain extensive contacts and knowledge in television production, marketing and creation of live events worldwide as well as working relationships and friendships with the best in the business.

Retiring as a world-ranked professional fighter, Gilbert is the former WBO-NABO and WBC-USNBC Middleweight Champion with a record of 20-3, with 15 knockouts.

Boxing career

Joey began boxing as an amateur at the University of Nevada, Reno. During his time at the University of Nevada, Joey 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 also 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 after Gilbert tested positive for banned performance enhancing drugs. Gilbert subsequently had his license suspended for a year and was required to pay a $10,000 fine.

On February 14, 2009, Gilbert challenged former rival Jesse Brinkley for the WBC USNBC super middleweight title, but was defeated by wide 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.

Outside the Ring

Among Joey's many roles in life, his most prized is being a father. Joey Gilbert's daughter, born May 10, 2010, is the most important person in his life. He often speaks of how rewarding it is to be a father and how much he enjoys being an extremely hands-on dad.

Joey Gilbert also enjoys helping others. He previously traveled on three USO tours to Afghanistan twice and Iraq once. Joey Gilbert says "Out of all the incredible experiences I was able to enjoy being a celebrity... those trips were the most rewarding... If I had a choice of what to do I would definitely do those because it was so rewarding to do so much... I'll always remember that, just sitting with the soldiers."

Just talking with Joey for a short time, you will get caught up in a whirlwind of positive energy and can-do attitude that bursts from this self-proclaimed disciple of success coach, Tony Robbins. Gilbert is a senior trainer alongside Tony Robbins along with a graduate of his leadership program. Gilbert has completed most of Tony Robbins' programs and is a firm believer in what he teaches such as NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). Gilbert uses Robbins' tactics and tools in his everyday life and does everything he can to develop his social skills to a different level.

Gilbert is also currently co-writing a motivational book called Willpower with his friend and personal attorney, Mark Schopper. The book promises to be one of the most exciting and innovative books ever written on the subject of developing and maintaining the Will Power, motivation, and self-discipline necessary to achieve greatness in your personal and professional life.

Gilbert was also a chair spokesman for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in 2005 and 2006.

Joey Gilbert has been working with corporate partners in an effort to reintroduce the sport of boxing to the mainstream by developing a boxing program for all age groups and levels of athletic ability. The main focus of the program is the Youth Boxing League ("YBL"). The league will focus on teaching the skills, discipline and conditioning aspects of boxing as an art form and physical exercise, thereby allowing the developing boxer/student to advance at a pace consistent with his or her physical and mental capability. The YBL and its affiliated training centers will require a positive, clean, consistent, and safe environment for all participants.

Joey Gilbert Get Active Foundation

Joey 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." Joey has worked with children of all ages and backgrounds. Through his extensive interaction with children, Joey recognized that most young people today have three significant problems: (1) a lack of good judgment, (2) a lack of self-confidence, and (3) a lack of motivation or will power. One does not need endless statistics or university studies (although there are many available) 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 ("Operating System") 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.

Joey Gilbert takes it as his personal duty to educate children and help them in as many ways as possible.

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