McDonagh No Match for Holyfield

It was an easy tuneup for Evander Holyfield, and the top-ranked heavyweight contender hopes it was his last.

“Evander is going to fight in the fall against Buster Douglas, I guarantee it,” promoter Dan Duva said after Holyfield knocked down Seamus McDonagh three times and stopped him in the fourth round at the Convention Center Friday night.

During the post-fight news conference, James Binns, attorney for the World Boxing Assn., said what Holyfield and Duva wanted to hear.

“The WBA will conduct purse bids Sunday, June 10, at the Plaza Hotel (in New York)”, Binns said. “I will notify all registered promoters.”

The highest bid at that time will promote Douglas’ mandatory title defense against Holyfield.

Douglas is in litigation trying to break a promotional contract with Don King.

It was all Holyfield Friday night in the former cruiserweight champion’s sixth fight as a heavyweight.

“Each and every time you get in the ring, you take a chance,” Holyfield said.

He never was in danger, however, against McDonagh.

The end for McDonagh came at 44 seconds of the fourth round of a scheduled 12-rounder before about 6,000 fans at the Convention Center.

The two fighters were engaged in an exchange when McDonagh threw a right but was beaten to the punch by a left hook. He went down and struggled up at the count of nine. Referee Joe Cortez stopped the bout.

Holyfield improved to 24-0 with his 20th knockout.

McDonagh, an English literature major at St. John’s University in New York, suffered his second loss against 19 victories and a draw and probably lost his No. 10 ranking by the WBA.

Early in the fourth round, Holyfield, who weighed 210 pounds, hurt McDonagh, 211 3/4, with two right hands to the head, and then finished him.

Holyfield got $1.2 million while McDonagh, who came to the United States from Ireland in 1982 and now lives in Brooklyn, made $100,000, by far his biggest payday.