A natural athlete, EJ Barthel was an All State football player at Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford, NJ. After graduating high school, Barthel went on to play Division 1 football at Rutgers University and later the University of Massachusetts on a full Athletic Scholarship. He was invited as a free agent to the NFL’s New York Giants minicamp in 2008-2009 before signing with the United Football League’s Las Vegas Locomotives in 2009. There he was coached by Jim Fassell, who formerly coached the Giants.

In his first season, Barthel was the only rookie to start every game en route to winning the UFL championship in 2009. Unfortunately, he tore his groin during the season and would need some time to recuperate.
While on the sidelines mending, a friend suggested that he accompany him to a boxing gym to stay in shape. Barthel took to it like a fish to water and now, under the guidance of Aroz Gist, is ready to launch his amateur career out of Global Boxing Gym.