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 Klitschko, prompting the referee 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.