RENO, Nev. (AP) _ Jesse Brinkley retained his U.S. National Boxing Championship super-middleweight title Saturday night with a unanimous-decision victory in 12 rounds against Joey Gilbert in a match-up of rivals from the 2005 reality TV series ``The Contenders.''
It was the third fight for Gilbert since he returned to boxing following a drug suspension.
Brinkley, from rural Yerington, was the fan favorite. He took the fight to Gilbert from the outset.
Gilbert, of Reno, spent much of his time backpedaling. At times, Brinkley urged Gilbert to box.
In the fifth round, Gilbert was forced to the ropes. When he bounced off them, Brinkley landed a right cross that dropped him to the canvas. Gilbert fought the rest of the way with blood dripping from his broken nose.
Brinkley, who entered the fight ranked No. 13 by IBF, improved to 33-5. Gilbert dropped to 17-2.
Gilbert was suspended for a year by the Nevada Athletic Commission after he failed to pass a drug test following his first-round knockout of Charles Howe in Reno in 2007.
