Heavyweights: Jimmy Ellis VS Rex Layne

[Scypion]

Interesting match up. Layne was considered one of the top heavyweight contenders until he ran into Rocky.

Who wins?

[margaret thatcher]

cant pick because i dont know layne, but my gawd he had the perfect name for a comic book hero/movie star/porn star

[DrDuke]

Ellis by close dec.

[Scypion]

cant pick because i dont know layne, but my gawd he had the perfect name for a comic book hero/movie star/porn star

Rex Layne started his pro career in 1949 and his career was sailing along when he ran into Rocky Marciano in July of 1951. He took a brutal beating from Rocky and had a bunch of his teeth knocked out. Some say that fight ruined him for boxing.

In his next fight, he took another brutal beating from Ezzard Charles and had to be carried back to his corner by handlers after being saved by the bell in the 10th round. That fight was stopped in the 11th round when Layne was helpless.

Layne stayed a contender for awhile, but never got a shot at the title. He really was a good fighter and had a lot of KO's, but those back to back fights with Marciano and Charles damaged him and hurt his career, I believe.

Layne won a decision over Jersey Joe Walcott in 1950 and later on beat Ezzard Charles on points (1953 I think). He also beat Bob Satterfield by KO a short time before his fight with Marciano.

[margaret thatcher]

[Scypion]

cant pick because i dont know layne, but my gawd he had the perfect name for a comic book hero/movie star/porn star

Rex Layne started his pro career in 1949 and his career was sailing along when he ran into Rocky Marciano in July of 1951. He took a brutal beating from Rocky and had a bunch of his teeth knocked out. Some say that fight ruined him for boxing.

In his next fight, he took another brutal beating from Ezzard Charles and had to be carried back to his corner by handlers after being saved by the bell in the 10th round. That fight was stopped in the 11th round when Layne was helpless.

Layne stayed a contender for awhile, but never got a shot at the title. He really was a good fighter and had a lot of KO's, but those back to back fights with Marciano and Charles damaged him and hurt his career, I believe.

Layne won a decision over Jersey Joe Walcott in 1950 and later on beat Ezzard Charles on points (1953 I think). He also beat Bob Satterfield by KO a short time before his fight with Marciano.

BTW, Layne's points win over Charles was in 1952. The decision was highly disputed. Jack Dempsey was the referee and his decision was the only one that counted. From what I have read, Dempsey is about the only one that thought Layne won the fight.

Layne and Charles had another fight in 1953. Charles won that one easily by decision in 10 rounds.

Apparently, Layne was at his best before his fight with Marciano. He had 34 wins by KO during his career.

[DrDuke]

BTW, Layne's points win over Charles was in 1952. The decision was highly disputed. Jack Dempsey was the referee and his decision was the only one that counted. From what I have read, Dempsey is about the only one that thought Layne won the fight.

From here: "In a blatantly obvious hometown decision, Referee Jack Dempsey scored 2 rounds for Layne, 1 round for Charles with 7 rounds even."

https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Ezza ... d_meeting)

[LeRoiDuRing]

From here: "In a blatantly obvious hometown decision, Referee Jack Dempsey scored 2 rounds for Layne, 1 round for Charles with 7 rounds even."

7 even rounds !? damn.

After reading the book championship fighting you could understand Dempsey scoring it that way but then he's not a good judge at all.

[goose 5]

Peak Ellis wins this one by a very wide decision-a borderline shutout.

[Ambling Alp II]

Layne was not a text book fighter by any means. However he was one of those guys that somehow or another had better results than you would expect. Would have to pick Ellis, but it would probably be competitive.

[Scypion]

Actually, Rex Layne was considered to be on track to be the next heavyweight champion right up until his fight with Rocky Marciano. He was even favored to beat Rocky.

[Ambling Alp II]

He was a legitimate contender for several years. The Layne-Marciano fight was a big fight at the time.

Wanted to mention something about Dempsey as a judge: He was a friend of Max Baer's. He was even in Baer's corner occasionally. He was also the sole referee and sole judge for the Baer-Uzcudun fight. He awarded the decision to Uzcudun.

[LeRoiDuRing]

Interesting ones because both of them fought at very tough eras and are quite forgotten or underrated. Ellis is obviously overshadowed by the whole golden era of boxing of the late 60's and 70's and Layne mostly by Rocky Marciano and other big names of the 50's.

Not to go into a big boring analyze I could see the fight following a similar path than the Jimmy Ellis one against Jerry Quarry where he won a very close UD. Could go either way really

[scorpio83]

Prime Ellis of the Quarry fight would school Layne behind his quick jabs, right hands and long combinations to either take a decision or late round stoppage.