Donald Deals Williams a Blow : Boxing: Former Olympian wins majority decision over Long Beach fighter in meeting of unbeaten heavyweights.

LAS VEGAS —  Larry Donald took a nimble leap up the ladder Saturday, and Jeremy Williams slid back down.

In a showdown of undefeated heavyweights who had far more at stake than Williams’ World Boxing Council Continental Americas belt, Donald won a majority decision over Long Beach’s Williams before an estimated 3,500 at the MGM Grand.

The taller, heavier (227-210), cagier Donald pummeled Williams from the outside with left-right combinations and prevented Williams from charging inside with a long left jab.

Donald, a 1992 U.S. Olympian, improved to 13-0. And, more important than any minor belt, the 27-year-old Donald moved himself into position to vie for a more significant title--possibly against World Boxing Organization title-holder Michael Bentt, who will fight Henry Hide this month.

“I’m looking for bigger and better things after this,” said Donald, who won easily on two of the judges’ cards. One judge, Carol Castellano, called it a draw.

The loss for Williams, meanwhile, dashes his immediate hopes of jumping into the division’s elite. ABC, which made him the feature of its first boxing broadcast since last June, had tentative plans to show Williams in a series of fights building toward a championship.

“We have to do some examination to deal with what’s best to rectify what happened,” said Bill Cayton, Williams’ manager. “Obviously, all the plans we had have been changed.”

Williams, 21, started quickly, pressuring Donald hard in the first round, but Donald assumed control 20 seconds into the second with a sharp right hand to Williams’ chin that rocked him backward. Donald never was in trouble again.

With the hard-hitting Williams reduced to awkward tactics that rarely produced any damage, Donald piled up points the rest of the way.

In the 11th, Williams, who has a history of reeling when hit squarely on the chin, was staggered by a left-right combination that ended any chance of a late comeback.

By the 12th, Donald was doing his Ali shuffle.

“He fought a skilled fight,” Williams said. “The guy’s taller, you’ve got to go inside, but his jab was better than mine today. He wouldn’t let me inside--which was very smart to do.”

Williams (15-1) acknowledged that Donald controlled him, but said that he will not disappear from the heavyweight scene.

“By no means does it mean I’m out of the picture,” he said. “I just have to take a step back. I still have a long career ahead of me.”

On the undercard, heavyweight Shannon Briggs went to 17-0 with a technical knockout of Jimmy Ellis (20-5-1) at 35 seconds of the first round. Also, Alexander Zolkin (17-2) won a unanimous heavyweight decision over Frankie Swindell (28-12-1).