Lawrence Clay-Bey Joins Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing

20.06 - Legendary boxer turned promoter, Sugar Ray Leonard, Chairman of Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing and Bjorn Rebney, CEO and President of Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing, announced the signing of Heavyweight Lawrence Clay-Bey of Bloomfield, Connecticut.

With a professional record of 15 victories against just one defeat (with 11 knockouts), Clay-Bey has been virtually inactive for the last year due to legal problems with his previous promoter. Clay-Bey's stellar amateur career was capped off in 1996 when he was voted captain of the U.S. Olympic Team. Clay-Bey's amateur record was a very impressive 60 victories against just 9 defeats with 54 victories coming by way of knockout. Clay-Bey's ascent to the top of the amateur boxing world was as unique as the man himself.

In 1992, standing 6-2 and weighing over 275 pounds, Lawrence Clay-Bey, was looking for a way to lose some unwanted bulk. Clay-Bey went to the local gym, began hitting the heavy bag and shortly thereafter he lost 45 pounds and was headed for an entirely new career. He was soon approached in the gym by a local amateur trainer and the rest is quickly becoming boxing history. In his first full year in boxing, Clay-Bey made it to the finals of the Golden Gloves. In 1995 he won the U.S. National Championships, a feat which he repeated in 1996. Clay-Bey won the World Championship in 1996 and then became captain of the U.S. Olympic Team that same year, where he lost a controversial two point decision to 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Vladamir Klitchko.

Promoter Sugar Ray Leonard says of Clay-Bey, "He is a tremendous prospect in the heavyweight division. With the right strategic fights, within a year, Clay-Bey can be fighting for the Title. One of the keys to success for any fighter is constant activity and that's what we intend to provide for Clay-Bey. In addition to being a talented fighter, Clay-Bey also believes in and stands up for the things that can help make him a success outside the ring as well."

Rebney echoes Leonard's support and goes on to say, "Clay-Bey is a good example of the type of promotional client we are looking for - capable of achieving greatness both inside the ring and out. Our plan for Clay-Bey to be in an off TV fight in early July followed by an ESPN2 televised bout in early August."

The long-term promotional relationship was negotiated with Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing by Clay-Bey's manager James Gogue and his attorney Michael Miller. Clay-Bey says, "Now I believe I have the whole team I need behind me - the rest is up to me and I don't plan on letting anyone down."

Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing is making unprecedented strides in the boxing world. After just 9 televised events, the promotion company broke all attendance records at Buffalo's Alumni Arena, and the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Events have consistently sold out in nearly every market. Additionally, the television ratings on ESPN2 have shot through the roof for Sugar Ray Leonard Presents Friday Night Fights, generating many of the highest ratings on the network.

Leonard's goal for Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing is to provide the most exciting, evenly-matched fights and to change the focus of the sport to make the fighters and the fans its primary beneficiaries