Zülow (right) battling North Korea's Jo Ryon-sik in 1985
Zülow had an outstanding amateur career, compiling a Record of 273 wins in 322 fights.
His highlights include:
- East German Featherweight Champion 1984–1986, East German Lightweight Champion 1987–1989, German Light Welterweight Champion 1992
- 1985 competed as a Featherweight at the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary
- Defeated Raymond Gavia (France) PTS (5–0)
- Lost to Tomasz Nowak (Poland) PTS (0–5)
- 1986 3rd place as a Featherweight at the World Championships in Reno, United States.
- Defeated Klaus Niketta (West Germany) PTS (5–0)
- Defeated Kunle La Costa (Nigeria) RSCH-1
- Defeated Bobby McCarthy (Ireland) PTS (5–0)
- Lost to Kelcie Banks (USA) PTS (1–4)
- 1987 competed as a Featherweight at the European Championships in Turin, Italy
- 1988 Lightweight Gold Medalist at the Seoul Olympics representing East Germany
- 1989 2nd place as a Lightweight at the World Championships in Moscow, Soviet Union
- Defeated Darrell Hiles (Australia) PTS (24–4)
- Defeated Fared Cheklat (France) AB-3
- Defeated Konstantin Tszyu (Soviet Union) PTS (17–14)
- Lost to Julio Gonzalez (Cuba) PTS (+15-15)
- 1990 competed as a Lightweight at the Goodwill Games in Seattle, United States
- 1991 competed as a Light Welterweight at the World Championships in Sydney, Australia
- 1991 2nd place as a Light Welterweight at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.
- 1992 competed as a Light Welterweight at the Barcelona Olympics representing Germany. Results were:
- 1994 competed as a Light Welterweight at the Goodwill Games in Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Lost to Hans Janssen (Netherlands) PTS (3–5)