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By MURRAY ROSE
NEW YORK, Oct. 26 AP - Aging
Joe Louis, who wants another shot
at the heavyweight crown more
than anything else in the world,
risks that chance tonight when he
faces young, undefeated, hard-
hitting Rocky Marciano in a Mad-
ison Square Garden ten rounder.
This is the big test of his come-
back for the 37-year-old Brown
Bomber and he knows it. A loss
to the hard-hitting 27-year-old
Brockton belter means the end of
the trail for one of the ring's all-
time greats.
_
The betting professionals be-
lieve Louis is approaching the
end. They have established him as
a slim 6 to 5 favorite - the short-
est odds in all of jarring Joe's ca-
reer.
_
By fight time (10 p.m., EST)
the odds may go up to 8 to 5. The
lowest price ever on Louis was the
9 to 5 odds for his second fight
with Max Schmeling. And you
know what happened - boom,
boom, boom, and Unser Max was
knocked out in 2:04 of the first
round.
_
But 13 years have gone by since
then and apparently so has most
of the old dynamite in the Bomb-
er's right fist. His reflexes have
dulled and there isn't much re-
semblance between the young
tiger of 13 years ago and the bald-
ing campaigner of today.
_
Louis, however feels he has
enough left to whip the crude,
rough ex-GI who has come up
like a rocket.
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"I'll beat him," said Louis.
"Maybe knock him out."
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"I'll win," said Rocky, "maybe
knock him out. I think I can beat
anyone in the world."
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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
of the ring will lure over 15,000
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 the raking punches of
Ezzard Charles 13 months ago.
Joe won all eight but only three
by knockouts.
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Marciano, one-time shoe worker
who has been fighting pro a little
more than three years, has won all
37 of his pro fights, 32 of them by
knockouts. You can skip most of
the 37 except for his split deci-
sion over Roland LaStarza, classy
New York contender, and his six-
round kayo of rugged Rex Layne
on July 12.
_
The Layne victory established
the swarthy Rocky as a big timer.
A win over Louis will shoot him
into a title fight next summer.
_
This observer believes Rocky
is going to have to wait awhile.
We think that Louis' experience,
his 26 pounds pull in the weights
- 210 to 184 - his nine-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 maul-
er.
_
The well muscled New Eng-
lander is expected to swarm after
Louis, attempt to get inside his
long left, 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
strategy calls for Rocky to go into
a crouch, the same style of box-
ing that has bothered Louis
through the years. However, al-
though Louis has been bothered,
he has never been beaten by the
crouchers.
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