Rex Layne vs. Harry Matthews
Rex Layne 198 lbs lost to Harry Matthews 183 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1952-05-19
- Location: Pacific Livestock Pavilion, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Referee: Ralph Gruman
- Judge: Freddie Steele
- Judge: Eddie Volk
Layne was down in the 2nd
Attendance: 11,361 Gate Receipts: $66,581. Gate is a record for the state of Oregon, The Ring Record Book erroneously lists it as the largest attendance, the largest attendance would have been Young Peter Jackson vs. Ah Wing Lee in 1933.
"Monday night Harry (Kid) Matthews beat Rex Layne, who fought one of the best fights of his career. Layne was strong and well-conditioned. Unfortunately for Rex, he met a guy who had everything he had, plus a remarkable defense and a pair of hands with all the speed and venom of a rattler. Matthews took everything Layne had to offer and dropped Rex once in the 2nd round for an eight-count. He tagged Layne with several more rights, but Layne wasn't paying any return visits to the canvas. Layne fired every gun in his armament and each time Matthews picked off the punch and countered. That was the tale of victory. Matthews hands were quicker than the eye, and Layne has a black eye to prove it." -Salt Lake Tribune
- Unofficial AP scorecard - 8-1-1 Matthews
- Unofficial Ogden Tribune scorecard - 6-2-2 Matthews
- Gate - $71,711 (app.)
- Attendance - 11,361 (new indoor record for the state of Oregon)
- Purses: Both fighters made in excess of $15,000 apiece
Post fight comments
- "Oh, it was an agreement of a type, providing for a rematch if terms could be ironed out. But these things are hard to agree upon and right now I expect to sign with Rocky Marciano before the week is over. In that case we wouldn't have time for a Layne rematch in the immediate future." -Jack Hurley, Matthews manager, explaining the contract clause that called for a rematch within 60 days
- "Rocky Marciano never saw the day he could beat Harry Matthews." -Rex Layne, on a possible bout between the two.