Donald wants to erase memory of loss to Bowe

Dean Juipe

Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000 | 10:16 a.m.

Ask the typical boxing fan for a first impression of Larry Donald and the reply almost always will address the only loss of the heavyweight's career.

Even though it has been more than five years since Donald lost a 12-round decision to Riddick Bowe at Caesars Palace, that single fight remains something of an albatross around Donald's neck.

It was such a bad fight -- dull and monotonous -- that it has had a lingering shelf life.

And even though Donald has done nothing but win since that night, Dec. 3, 1994, and is now 36-1-1, his fight with Bowe still casts a lengthy shadow.

"Things like that happen sometimes," Donald said Monday, reflecting on the bout with Bowe. "The way I look at that fight now is that it was a great learning experience and that I've grown since then.

"As for my stock having fallen, I don't know that it should (have). Bowe was considered the baddest man on the planet when we fought, and at that time he'd knocked out everyone except for me and Evander Holyfield."

While Bowe has since retired but is back in the news with his attorney claiming the fighter was "brain damaged" when he pleaded guilty to abducting his wife and children in Charlotte, Donald continues to fight and will headline a card tonight at the Plaza hotel in downtown Las Vegas.

He'll take on Mark Bradley in a 12-round bout with the vacant North American Boxing Federation title at stake. Three other fights are scheduled for a card set to begin at 5 p.m.

The main event clearly is designed to showcase Donald and, perhaps, assist his position in the major organizations' rankings. As it stands, Donald is ranked No. 4 by the IBF, No. 6 by the WBC and No. 9 by the WBA.

Despite his impressive record he has never had a world-title fight and, obviously, he may never get one without moving into a mandatory challenger's position.

Nonetheless, at the age of 33 he's confident it will someday fall into place.

"There's no sense of urgency," he said. "I'm in my prime and the titles will be split up again, so I think my opportunity will come either this year or next."

Donald, of Cincinnati, has hopscotched among promoters and is back with Don King after being aligned with Bob Arum and Cedric Kushner earlier. This is actually his second stint with King.

"I'm very comfortable with him," Donald said. "I don't blame my previous promoters, but I should have signed with Don after I came out of the Olympics (in 1992). If I had, I might already be the heavyweight champion.

"With the other promoters, it was like I was out in the ocean and couldn't get to shore. I'm in a better position with Don because he controls the heavyweight division."

Donald has also split from his former managers, Steve Nelson and Robert Mittleman, and is now managed by Carl King.

Donald, who has won 21 of his 38 fights by knockout, has never been knocked down and has significant wins over Jeremy Williams, Bert Cooper and Tim Witherspoon.

Defeating Bradley tonight may not turn many heads, as even Donald isn't sure what to expect. The sports book at the Plaza does not have a line up on the fight.

"I don't know him at all," he said. "But everyone deserves an opportunity and I can't overlook a guy like this, even though he's just an interim challenge."

Bradley, of Owenshort, Ky., is 12-2 with eight KOs.

This is Donald's first time headlining in Las Vegas since the fight with Bowe, which clearly did not live up to expectations in spite of their prefight skirmish at a press conference. Bowe, without provocation, punched Donald in the face for no apparent reason.

"I don't hold any grudges against him," Donald said. "If I saw him today, I'd give him a hug."

He has forgiven and forgotten. Now the question is, have the sport's fans done the same with him?

Also scheduled on tonight's card: Radford Beasley, 18-0, vs. Claure Rojas, 16-10-1, 12 rounds, featherweights; Antonio Tarver, 15-0, vs. Ernest Mateen, 24-8-2, 10 rounds, light heavyweights; and DeMarcus Corley, 21-1-1, vs. Troy Browning, 17-0-1, 10 rounds, junior welterweights.