Lawrence Clay Bey
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Marvin Clay-Bey (born December 14, 1965 in Bloomfield, Connecticut
) is an American
heavyweight
professional boxer
. Although he had a very promising amateur career, as a pro, Clay-Bey never lived up to the hype that once surrounded him.
Clay-Bey won a super heavyweight bronze medal at the 1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships
in Berlin
,later KOd Joe Mesi
to win the right to go to the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, Georgia
and was also team USA's captain. However he was put out of the tournament in his first fight by a close/controversial 10-8 decision to eventual Gold medalist Wladimir Klitschko
. He was the only fighter Klitschko had problems with as he managed to rattle Klitchko prompting the ref to issue a standing 8 count. After the fight he raised some eyebrows downplaying it as "just a loss" which let journalists question his dedication. He finished the amateurs with a 60-9 record.
in 2000. The two traded shots round after round with Etienne being the more active of the two, and Etienne took the decision. After the loss to Etienne, Clay-Bey began putting on weight and coming into fights out of shape. But he stayed busy and took a victory over promising prospect Charles Shufford
in 2003, setting up a fight against Eliecer Castillo
. Castillo KO'd Clay-bey in the 9th round. Clay-Bey's once promising career drifted into obscurity. Although he was able to beat former cruiserweight champ Imamu Mayfield
in 2004, he dropped a decision to Sinan Samil Sam
and drew with Derek Bryant
in 2005.
Bloomfield, Connecticut
Bloomfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,626 at the 2009 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and 0.2 square miles is water.Bloomfield is bordered by Windsor to the...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. Although he had a very promising amateur career, as a pro, Clay-Bey never lived up to the hype that once surrounded him.
Amateur career
Lawrence Clay-Bey started to box late in life in his 20's. He lost his first two amateur fights but stuck with it and eventually won the National Golden Gloves in his next eight fights. At this point he weighed around 260 pounds.Clay-Bey won a super heavyweight bronze medal at the 1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships
1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships
thumb|German stamp from 1995The Men's 1995 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in the Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany from May 4 to May 15. The eighth edition of this competition, held a year before the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, was organised by the world governing body for...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
,later KOd Joe Mesi
Joe Mesi
"Baby" Joe Mesi is an American boxer and politician from Tonawanda, New York. He is a registered member of the Democratic Party.- Early life :...
to win the right to go to the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and was also team USA's captain. However he was put out of the tournament in his first fight by a close/controversial 10-8 decision to eventual Gold medalist Wladimir Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian heavyweight boxer. Klitschko is the WBA , IBF, WBO Super, IBO & Ring Magazine Champion. His older brother Vitali Klitschko is the current WBC champion...
. He was the only fighter Klitschko had problems with as he managed to rattle Klitchko prompting the ref to issue a standing 8 count. After the fight he raised some eyebrows downplaying it as "just a loss" which let journalists question his dedication. He finished the amateurs with a 60-9 record.
- United States amateur (AAU) Super Heavyweight champion (1995, 1996)
Professional career
After a year of debating if he wanted to turn pro Lawrence Clay-Bey decided he wanted to see how far he could go. He got into much better shape and shed 25-30 pounds to a better fighting weight of 235. He turned pro in 1997 and he easily blew past his early opponents despite them having more experience and glossy pro records. Clay-Bey was thought very highly of, and was being groomed to be a future title holder until he met the streaking Clifford EtienneClifford Etienne
Clifford Etienne , also known as "The Black Rhino", is a former American boxer, who is currently serving a 150 year prison sentence without possibility of parole.-Background:...
in 2000. The two traded shots round after round with Etienne being the more active of the two, and Etienne took the decision. After the loss to Etienne, Clay-Bey began putting on weight and coming into fights out of shape. But he stayed busy and took a victory over promising prospect Charles Shufford
Charles Shufford
Charles Shufford is a professional boxer.He had 35 amateur fights at superheavyweight and in 1996 beat Lance Whitaker but lost to Joe Mesi and Lovy Page....
in 2003, setting up a fight against Eliecer Castillo
Eliecer Castillo
Elieser Ramos Castillo , is a Cuban professional boxer in the heavyweight division.-Amateur career:Elieser Castillo Ramos was part of the legendary Cuban boxing program before he defected to the United States....
. Castillo KO'd Clay-bey in the 9th round. Clay-Bey's once promising career drifted into obscurity. Although he was able to beat former cruiserweight champ Imamu Mayfield
Imamu Mayfield
Imamu Amiri Mayfield is an American professional boxer.-Career:Mayfield turned pro in 1994 and was a popular local fighter known for being on boxing cards in various New Jersey venues. He won the IBF Cruiserweight Title with a win over Uriah Grant in 1997...
in 2004, he dropped a decision to Sinan Samil Sam
Sinan Samil Sam
Sinan Şamil Sam is a German born Turkish heavyweight professional boxer. As a professional boxer, Sam won the EBU and WBC International titles in the heavyweight division.- Amateur career :...
and drew with Derek Bryant
Derek Bryant
Derek Bryant , born April 19, 1971 in Philadelphia, PA, is an American heavyweight boxer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has the boxing ID number US-PA-017121. He is a journeyman fighter who has appeared on the TV program Friday Night Fights. He holds wins against Jorge Luis Gonzalez, Taurus...
in 2005.