The Contender

Background:

Boxer Joey Gilbert began his career as an amateur fighter at the University of Nevada where he won three consecutive National Championships, four Regional Championships and became Nevada State Golden Gloves Super Middleweight Champion. However, the Italian-American boxer is probably best known to international audiences as a result of his participation on the NBC sport show “The Contender” (2005), in which he was the winner of 9 out of the 12 physical challenges. According to many commentators and boxing insiders, Gilbert reminds them of the great Italian middleweights of history because of his durability and determination to win, which has also been seen in boxing legends like Rocky Graziano and Jake La Motta. He also possesses the skill of ring craftsmen like Carmen Basilio and Tony Zale.

Outside of the ring, Gilbert, who holds a law degree, is a practicing lawyer. He is also a writer and with his law partner wrote a book about willpower. He and fellow contender Alfonso Gomez are developing a book about boxing. In addition, Gilbert is known as a sport agent, businessman, TV personality, sport commentator and according to his personal website, also acts, models and is a professional bodybuilder.

Law Degree

Childhood and Family:

Chicago, Illinois, native Joseph Salvatore Chiarmonte, who would later be popular as Joey Gilbert, was born on June 5, 1976, to Italian immigrants Debbie and Joseph Chiarmonte. His parents separated when he was a young boy and a few years later his mother, who is a nurse, married a doctor she worked with at a hospital. Sometime thereafter, he was adopted and took the surname of his stepfather, Dr. Warren S. Gilbert M.D. As a child, Joey and his family moved and settled in Reno, Nevada. After graduating from Bishop Manogue Catholic High School, he studied literature, political science and Italy at the University of Nevada in Reno, where he was active in campus activities, including the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and boxing. He also obtained a law degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. Joey's sister is a nutritionist and trainer and the two often work together.

Joey is the owner of a German shepherd named Champ. His favorite band is The Doors.

Boxing

Career:

Joey Gilbert took up boxing while in college and saw it as a positive outlet for his energy and a way to help him develop self discipline. He joined the University of Nevada team and within a month of training, discovered boxing was a passion and pursued it more intensely. Gilbert quickly expanded his boxing skills and impressed the Nevada coaches with his potential. He won his first fight of the season and went on to win fight after fight.

Guided by three devoted Nevada coaches, Greg Rice, Mike Martino and Pat Schellin, Gilbert's hard work in the gym paid off when at the end of the season he set a record as an undefeated fighter and won his first of four Regional Championships. The success, however, did not come without a cost. He broke his nose in the championship round and was advised not to compete in the National Championships.

A tragedy struck in Gilbert's life when his best friend, Donald Joseph Benardis, was tragically killed in a car accident involving an alcohol impaired driver. This loss devastated Gilbert but in spite of the loss, he decided to fight in the National Championship in honor of his friend's memory. With support from his family and friends, he fought hard but his injury became an obstacle when his nose began bleeding and his coaches were unable to stop the flow. He kept fighting until the ring doctor stopped the fight.

Gilbert returned to the gym as soon as he healed from nose surgery. From then on, he never lost a fight in college boxing and picked up three consecutive National Championships. He was also named Outstanding Boxer of the NCAA Tournament twice and was a four time All American. He won the Nevada State Golden Gloves Super Middleweight Championship and finished his amateur career with a record of 27-1. Thanks to his athletic prowess, exceptional work ethics and coach-ability, Gilbert was established as one of the all-time greatest college fighters.

After deliberating with one of his mentors, world renowned boxing referee and ex-NCAA Boxing Champion Mills Lane, Gilbert turned professional in the summer of 2000 in a fight at Harrah's Casino. In the match, he scored a second round knockout against his opponent. A few months later, he began his law studies. Realizing it was not an easy task to maintain a professional career while pursuing his education, Gilbert put together a team of highly qualified people to assist him and with the intention of representing athletes after law school, set up a professional organization. Sig Rogich, the owner and president of Rogich Communications and former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland and advisor to Presidents Ronald Reagan, became his manager. In addition to serving as a mentor to Gilbert and Team Gilbert in their professional enterprise, attorney and future law partner Mark Schopper became his agent. Pat Conners, founder, owner, and CEO of Tetrus Building Materials, Inc., a multi-million dollar company based in Reno, joined the group as the financial advisor. His sister, Gina Gilbert-Green, serves as his health advisor.

With Team Gilbert, Gilbert built a reputation in boxing as a technical fighter and carefully planned his fight strategies according to the strengths or weaknesses of his opponents. After training with legendary trainer Pepe Morales in Mexico, he returned to the U.S., where he relocated to Las Vegas and trained under Kenny Rayford. Gilbert fought three times in one summer and won his first two fights with immediate knockouts. He is now 9-1 with seven knockouts.

With some degree of prominence he collected in the ring, Gilbert became a regular figure in articles of countless magazines and newspapers. He also received endorsement offers and worked as an international model for Dsquared2 in fashion shows in the United States and Italy. In 2005, he was approached to take part in the NBC reality TV show “The Contender,” hosted by Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard. The winner of 9 out of 12 physical challenges on the show, Gilbert soon emerged as a standout participant. He defeated Jimmy Lange in the first round of the competition, but in the Quarter Finals lost to Peter Manfredo in a divided decision. The fight was stopped in the fifth round because of an accidental head butt from his opponent, which sent him to the hospital. After “The Contender,” Gilbert later won a 6 round unanimous decision in the super middleweight division against James North. He also defeated Jimmy Lange at a rematch fight at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia, for the middleweight NABO title.

Outside of boxing, Gilbert made endorsements for a number of fitness related, fashion and lifestyle companies and appeared in dozens of magazines, including Sports Illustrated. He also appeared as a commentator on several Showtime boxing specials, ESPN Radio and local television. In April 2005, he was appointed by Sylvester Stallone as the spokesperson for Stallone’s new line of nutrition products. Gilbert also wrote a book with his friend and law partner Mark Schopper and is co-writing a book with fellow contender Alfonso Gomez.

Awards:

• National Championships: 3 wins, (while in college)

• Regional Championships: 4 wins, (while in college)

• Nevada State Golden Gloves Super Middleweight Champion