He qualified as a comer in his day. I just don't think we would even know his name if he was around today. Do the math.
You would know his name in the cruiser division. He was a GOOD fighter. Top 80-100 HW ever. Could have been better if he trained harder. Reminds me of Ingo but if he didn’t train as hard.
I don't buy a single statement above. He looks average. He fought average. He had average physical gifts. Would have never heard of him.
Rex Layne turned pro in May of 1949. By The time he fought Rocky in July of 1951 he had built a record of 34-1-2-24 in only 26 months. I’d say that’s pretty damn impressive. Now add a few respectable names in that streak like Joe Walcott, Turkey Thompson, ceaser Brion, and Bob Satterfield and it’s not hard to see why he was a contender
China Chin 5'10 178 lb Satterfield took 31-1 Big Cat Williams best and flattened Big Cat in 3 rounds leaving Big Cat unconscious for several minutes before he could recover and also went 10 vs Nino Valdes winning a UD and dropping Nino for a 9 count in the 10th rd. - he also KO'd Nino conqueror Bob Baker in 1 rd. Layne was described by Nat Fleischer of Ring Magazine as the Next Jack Dempsey and Layne was 34-1-1 beating every man he lost or drew with by KO - Marciano did change all that with one tremendous short right hand (TAP?) Big John Tate -Roy Jones- etc. never really recover from those type of KO losses - few fighters bounce back the same from a devastating count out like that with a few exceptions
He had neither Ingo's footwork,defence, jab,or power . Fitter or not, that would not have changed his limitations regarding talent.
Williams was 20 years old 2 day substitute you've been told this 3 times in the last 2 weeks! Satterfield also floored Layne and this was a prime Layne, not a kid coming in as a last minute sub! NB Satterfield is Layne's only stoppage over a figther with any pretensions top class! Layne wasn't koing everyone at all. In his last fight before facing Marciano ,he was taken the distance by journeyman 174pound Henry Hall. Prior to that third rater Andy Walker16-7-5 held him to a draw. Third rater Dale Hall 16-7-4 held him to a draw. Joe Kahut 179lbs went the distance with him. Light heavy Dave Whitlock178lbs went the distance with him 3 times wiinning1 and drawing 1. Third rater Grant Butcher 12-3-2 went the distance with him. Bob Golden 5-2-0 went the route with him. As for Cesar Brion See Below! James Dawson, New York Times, scored the bout 7-3 for Brion, giving Layne rounds 1, 2 and 8. Associated Press scored the bout 7-3 Layne. Dawson wrote: “Plunging and tossing like a rudderless ship, Rex Layne, Lewiston, Utah, heavyweight, somehow or other managed to gain a decision over Cesar Brion, from the Argentine, in ten dull rounds of fighting at Madison Square Garden last night. And if there is any consolation in a moral victory, Brion has it. A crowd of 5,768 booed the verdict and it was plain that many, if not the majority, thought Brion had won.” Associated Press: “22-year-old Rex from Utah’s sugar beet land failed to live up to the gaudy promise of his Nov. 24 upset over tired old Jersey Joe Walcott.” Bottom line, his limitations had been exposed before he met Marciano!
We don’t need to start the williams discussion again. I think he hit good but let’s face it he has zero good wins. So either he was a terrible finisher or had exaggerated power. Layne at least had some solid wins. You or any of the other detractors can’t take that from him. Layne and Lastarza were good fighters. Were they the best? No. But they were good fighters. Just as Williams was a good fighter. I rate Williams slightly above them and to be honest I have no idea why. The more I look at his record the more unimpressed I am. But he looks good in film.
Don't mind Bummy. He's just a Marciano arse licker who likes to degrade anyone he perceives as threats to his hero.
Below is a report of the Brion fight James Dawson, New York Times, scored the bout 7-3 for Brion, giving Layne rounds 1, 2 and 8. Associated Press scored the bout 7-3 Layne. Dawson wrote: “Plunging and tossing like a rudderless ship, Rex Layne, Lewiston, Utah, heavyweight, somehow or other managed to gain a decision over Cesar Brion, from the Argentine, in ten dull rounds of fighting at Madison Square Garden last night. And if there is any consolation in a moral victory, Brion has it. A crowd of 5,768 booed the verdict and it was plain that many, if not the majority, thought Brion had won.” Associated Press: “22-year-old Rex from Utah’s sugar beet land failed to live up to the gaudy promise of his Nov. 24 upset over tired old Jersey Joe Walcott.” So take that away ,make it a draw at best, and the Charles robbery ,and you have what? A win over Thompson, who was unranked, had lost his last 2 would have 2 more lose them and retire ,and a good win over Walcott. Is that a fair assessment ? A yes or no will suffice.
So Williams couldn't punch hard,despite the endorsements of Terrell Foreman Liston Machen Louis "That man Williams is way past his best,but brother he can still take you out with one punch! "
Rock did everything right, he went 49-0 43 knockouts, defended his title, and got out on top with his marbles relatively still in tact AND SOME CASH, -matchups I know thats pretty much a forum seed, And we will never know who he would have beaten or lost to, but at the time, the man was tops.
