Why was Ezzard Charles given a shot at Marciano?

I'll try finding it but I definitely remembering reading about Charles wanting to get a rematch but having trouble. I read this from something you posted.

Yeah, Charles wanted to avenge his loss too according to the article I'm referring to. How can you avenge a loss if you can't get a rematch for it. I think Valdes is the only thing he could've avenged to further prove his claim. Being a former champion also helps too.

 

valdes was a cuban who fought in miami with obvious home advantage. I cant say charles was robbed, i have no proof that he was. I can say it was a close hometown loss since charles was the "away fighter" that night.
likewise with the 2nd layne fight. rex was a midwestern atraction fighting out of utah against charles in utah with jack dempsey (from the midwest) as ref..
last time layne fought charles ezzard caught up with him in the 11th round the rematch went but 10 rounds, it could have been the same fight second time without a round 11?

since the 3rd charles v layne fight went like this:

1953-04-01 : Ezzard Charles 187½lbs beat Rex Layne 203lbs by UD in round 10 of 10
Location: Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, USA
Referee: Frankie Carter 59-51
Judge: Toby Irwin 59-51
Judge: Johnny Lotsey 60½-49½

"Charles scored knockdowns in rounds six, seven and ten with Layne out on his feet at the final bell. He also scored a left eye cut and a right eye puff in round six. Data Boxing reported the blows as Charles 154/450 34%, Layne 99/440 23%. Layne led in controls 103 to 99. The two split 50-50% in Events Per Round( Attempts + Controls) which were 109 for the bout, a moderately active total for heavyweights. "

I am confident charles had the measure of tough rex in the utah fight.

 

it is a home town loss. he was the away fighter and the fight was close. I said "home town loss" he lost in the other guys hometown. who wrote the reports home town press?

charles went on to beat beter guys, he beat guys who beat valdes, his weight was high, he wanted the rematch but did not get one so he did the next best thing by out shining valdes as a viable chalenger. even if valdes deserved the win he would go on to lose to guys charles would beat. charles losing to valdes was not a sighn he was slipping. merely he could lose and rebound as he did.

 

because ezzard is a delicacy to maidana... something to feed the beast.

 

I agree. having seen valdes agaisnt baker, moore, jackson,satterfield and london i think it must have been something like the fight of his life to edge charles when he did. charles fought 6 rated contenders that year and spread himself a bit thin. I think the charles who turned up for wallace would have had much too much for the valdes who showed up for satterfield, moore, baker and even jackson.

 

I am not that high on Nino Valdes, but from what I have read, his victory over Charles was not controversial. He apparently won it cleanly.

The decision losses to Walcott and Layne in 1952, and to Johnson in 1953, however, were all close and controversial.


My own guess is that Charles was probably looking past Valdes. He might not have taken him seriously. There is little doubt that he would have taken Walcott, Layne, and Johnson seriously, and tried to be at the top of his game.

 

I edited controversial out. These fights were close enough that many thought Charles won. I know the majority of the press thought Charles edged Walcott and Layne. I don't know how the press voted vis-a-vis Johnson.

 

this is the impresion i get also.

 

Choklab, you presume the Valdez fight was a homer, but what actual hard facts and proof is there to back that up?

 

Layne's win over Charles was certainly controversial.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EBYkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oU0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5532,1512607&hl=en

"The surprise of the decision, coming after 10 bruising rounds that were punctuated primarily by a powerful left hook used by the former heavyweight champion to punish Rowdy Rex, was indicated by the fact that virtually all ringsiders scoring the contest had Ezzard winning."

 

Whilst its true Charles had lost decisions to Valdes ,and Johnson, he had come back from that, to ko Coley Wallace and Bob Satterfield only 6 ,and 5 months before getting his title shot with Marciano.
Add to this he was a former Champ ,he was entitled to a shot, and more importantly the fans would turn out for it A very credible challenger which his stirring 15 rds challenge reinforced, imo.