Evening star., 1951-10-26
Crowd Of $1,000
Likely; Millions
TO Watch on N
Odds Remain 6 to 5
On Aging Ex-Chomp,
Shortest in Career
By Murray Rose
Associated Press Sports Writer

Joe LOUIS, IlSHtlIlS 1OT AuOtIlel
shot at the heavyweight crown
risks that chance tonight when hi
faces young. undefeated Rocky
Marciano in a Madison Square
Garden 10-rounder.
This is the big test in the 81
year-old Brown Bomber's come.
back and he knows it. A loss tt
the hard-hitting. 27 year ole
tBrockton CMassD better mean.
the end of the trail for one o1
the rings all-time greats.
(The fight will be broadcast
over WMAL and teleyised over
WNBW in Washington, starting
at 10 PM
The betting professionals be.
lieve Louis is approaching the
end. They have established him
as a slim 6-to-5 favorite - the
shortest odds in all of Louis ca
|reer.
Odds Expected to Rise.
BY fight time at 10 pm. the
odds may go UP to 8 to S. The
lowest price ever quoted on Lo'lis
was the 9-to-5 odds for his Sec
ond fight with Max Schmeling
And then-boom, boom. boom --
and Unser Max was knocked out
in 2:04 of the first round.
But 13 years have gone by and
apparently so has most Of the
dynamite in the Bomber's right
fist. His rehexes have dulled and
there isn't much resemblance be-
tween the young tiger of 13 years
ago and the balding campaigner
of today.
Louis, however, feels he has
enough left to whip the crude.
rough excl who has come up like
a rocket.
I'll beat him." Louis said
Maybe knock him out"
"I'll win." Rocky said, maybe
knock him out. I think I can
beat any one in the world"
$150,000 Gate Expected.
It's the old story Of the ring
the veteran on the downgrade
and the eager. hungry youngster
on the rise. And the ancient
drama is expected to attract more
than $4,000 fans and a gross gate
Of around $150.000.
Millions more will watch the
struggle via coast to coast tele-
casts by NBc. ABC will handle
the radio broadcast.
This is the ninth scrap for Louis
since he was battered into dismal
defeat by Ezzard Charles 13
months ago. Joe won all eight but
only three by knockouts.
Marciano, one-time shoe worker
who has been fighting pro little
more than three years. has won
all 81 Of his pro fights. 80 of them
by knockouts. You can skip most
Of the 81 except for his split de-
cision over Roland La Starza,
classy New York contender. and
his six-round kayo of rugged Rex
Eayne on July IL.
The Layne victory established
the swarthy Rocky as a big
timer. A win over Louis will
shoot him into A title fight next
summer.
Louis Victory Predicted.
This observer believes Rocky is
going to have to wait a while.
We think that Louis experience,
his 26-pound pull in the weights
-210 to 184-his 9-inch edge in
reach and his stunning left jab
and hook. will be more than
enough to cope with the vim and
power of the Massachusetts,
mauler.
The well-muscled New Eng
lander is expected to swarm after
Louis, attempt to get inside his
long left. and then overpower the
ex-champion with a barrage of
right-hand swings. He'll be hop
ing to get lucky with one Of his
first punches.
If he doesn't connect quickly
Trainer Charley Goldman's STRAIT
egy calls for Rocky to 60 into a
crouch, the same style of boxing
that has bothered Louis through
the years. However. although
Louis has been bothered, he has
never been beaten by the
crouchers.
Joe Beaten Only Twice.
Schmeling stopped the Bomber
in their first fight and Charles
whipped him. Those are the only
losses for Joe in 10 fights, SIS OF
which he won by knockouts.
Louis has been training against
fighters initiating Rocky's style
He's met the rushers with thump-
ing lefts to the kidneys and jar
ring right uppercuts.
If Rocky elects to switch tactics
and let Louis lead, he'll have that
stiff left jab and that nine-inch
reach edge to contend with.
Win or lose. Louis will collect
As per cent of everything. minus
taxes. His cut of the gate and the
$185. 900 radio-TV money should
come to $4,000. Marciano will
pocket his biggest pay, some $44,-
600 with his Is per cent cut.