By Ryan Ernst
Enquirer staff writer

Asked for a prediction concerning his fight against Evander Holyfield at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, local heavyweight Larry Donald was quick to respond.

"This may sound like slander," he said. "But I'm going to put Evander . . . away."

It might not be "float like a butterfly," but you'll have to forgive Larry "The Legend." The former Olympian is no longer the young poetry-spewing, ranking-climbing fast-talking prospect he once was.

Donald, 37, is a heavyweight staring down the latest in a line of "last chance" fights. He reflected on those fights and the corresponding losses at Monday's open training session at the Winton Terrace Boxing Gym, run by Larry Donald Sr. and Arnold Bush.

Donald said the problems he encountered in his two most recent fights against legitimate contenders, losses to Kirk Johnson and Vitali Klitschko, won't happen this time around. Donald (41-3-0, 24 KOs) has been criticized for failing to let his hands go, something new trainer Colin Morgan said he has remedied.

"He hasn't used that right (hand) as much," Morgan said. "But now his right is working."

Holyfield (38-7-2, 25 KOs) has apparently lost the form that made him the only four-time world champion. He hasn't fought in a year and has won only two of his last eight fights. A loss to Donald could put an end to one of the most storied careers in heavyweight history.

"He's a legend in his own right," Donald said of his 42-year-old opponent. "When it's all over he's going to go down in history. I'm just trying to be a part of history."

Donald, whom attorney Carl Lewis said is making six figures for the fight, wouldn't be the first area heavyweight to beat a great champion past his prime. Cincinnati legend Ezzard Charles took the world title from an aging Joe Louis in a 1950 unanimous decision.

Saturday's fight, available on HBO Pay-Per-View, is part of the four-fight heavyweight "Battle for Supremacy" card. The card also features John Ruiz vs. Andrew Golota, Chris Byrd vs. Jameel McCline and Hasim Rahman and Kali Meehan. The cost is $44.99.

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