From the S&S archives:
German has excellent chance, says Louis

FRANKFURT, Sept. 3 (S&S) — "I think (Karl) Mildenberger has an excellent chance. (Cassius) Clay's not fighting an old man, like those he's been fighting. Karl has the youth, power, endurance, and he can move."

With that, former heavyweight champion Joe Louis arrived one the scene here Saturday morning and established himself as a major spokesman for the theory that Mildenberger, the European champ, will be no pushover for Clay.

Jetting into Frankfurt Airport with agent and longtime friend Irwin Rosee, Louis relaxed in the terminal lounge and talked about the Sept. 10 Clay-Mildenberger heavyweight title fight.

Admittedly he is here to help publicize the bout, and, admittedly, it doesn't hurt to speak enthusiastically about the German fighter's chances of winning. But the 52-year-old former world titlist isn't hesitant about giving his reasons for thinking as he does.

"Clay," he said, "makes mistakes, and he plays around a lot in the ring. I saw Mildenberger's fights with (Zora) Folley and (Eddie) Machen on TV, and they are perhaps better boxers than Clay. If he (Mildenberger) could go the distance with them, he can go the distance with Clay."

As far as predictions go, Louis said, "Clay will probably win, but it'll be a tough fight. It's always tough, fighting a southpaw. I think Mildenberger has a chance to go the 15, and he's got a chance to win."

Louis, looking fit at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, plans to visit with an old friend — and foe — while in Germany; former heavyweight champ (1930-32) Max Schmeling.

Schmeling, who now resides in Hamburg and who will be down for the Clay-Mildenberger battle, handed Louis his first professional loss with a 12th-round knockout on June 19, 1936.

Two years and three days later, by which time Louis had become champion, Schmeling had the tables turned on him as the Brown Bomber decked the first — and, thus far, only — German world heavyweight title-holder.

But it was that loss to Schmeling in their first meeting that prompted Louis to issue his warning to Clay. Joe had knocked out King Levinsky, Max Baer, Paolino Uzcudun and Charley Retzlaff successively within four rounds before running into Schmeling.

"It's a matter of attitude," Louis remembers, "and Clay just might let down a little for this one like I did."

Representing the public relations firm of Louis and Rowe Enterprises, Louis is making his first visit to Germany. In addition to boosting the fight, he will be grinding out a series of articles for Stateside publication.

Getting technical for a moment, he attempted to explain the kinds of difficulty Clay might encounter in facing a southpaw.

Louis, who knocked out four lefthanders, as an amateur, each in the second round, said, "Clay must keep circling to his left, to stay out of the danger area, away from Mildenberger's left hand. If he circles right, he could be in trouble. So, it's up to Karl to make Clay fight his (Mildenberger's) fight."

Louis speculated that Mildenberger might make Clay look awkward for a few rounds.