Anyone Think Rex Layne Should Have Fought For the heavyweight Title?

Well, on paper he deserved the shot rather than Walcott.

I don't know the full story. But maybe his management or the people who ran boxing didn't feel he was ready, maybe they thought build his name up a bit more, develop his talent a bit more. He was still quite raw and inexperienced.

 

Far less qualified men have certainly been given a crack at it...From 1950 to 1951, Rex Layne went unbeaten in 19 strait fights in just 15 months and among those scalps were Walcott, Brion, Satterfield and Thompson.. Had be beaten Marciano in July of 1951 he no doubt would have been the next guy in line, but given what he had already accomplished, going through Rocky shouldn't have been necessary. Kinda like Lem Franklin having to go through Pastor to get to Louis and losing forever blowing his chances, when in fact Franklin should have been eligible without needing to jump that hurdle.

 

Louis signed to fight Franklin victim Simon ,after Franklin lost to Pastor
I've never thought it was about black and white to Louis's management it was about
GREEN
$$$$

 

Of course. Regardless of what people say of modern fighters and their tendency to skip over the most qualified challengers, the fact is its hardly anything new. Franklin had gone unbeaten in 20 strait fights from 1940 to 1942, beating Jimmy Bivens, Tony Musto and twice having beaten Abe Simon among a few others. When Franklin lost to Pastor I imagine it was convenient for them to say " oh well, he lost to a guy Joe already beat twice, so that's that. "

 

Layne was a TV favorite back in those early years. He had quite the following with his aggressive style and power. I think it's a question of losing key bouts that were pivotal in terms of fighting for the championship. All the details are really lost in time as to exactly why he never got a title shot. It's very easy to sit back 65 years later and state he was ducked but more than likely this was not the case. As with everything the devil is in the details. We do not have those details.

 

I don't think Layne was the same after the Marciano beating, but he would have made a more credible opponent than later challenger C*ckell just not at that time.

 

Here is the scoop. Layne was not on anyone's radar until he beat Walcott which was a huge upset. Only 7-8 months later he fought and lost to Marciano and then was koed by Charles. His best oppertunity to get a title shot was during that 7-8 month period where he was undefeated and had beaten Walcott. That is a very short time period and there could be many reasons why he did not fight for the title at that time.

 

You did not need to be on the radar to get a title shot from ezzard charles. Marshmallows like beshore Oma barone got shots for crying out loud.

 

Let's understand this. At any given time there are few contenders for the championship and many many pretenders. You are slighting Charles because during one seven month span he did not fight Layne? I am sure if Layne had continued his drive to the championship he would have gotten his shot. Charles camp could have had that entire period booked with these bouts prior to Layne beating Walcott.

 

I don't think that there was any time when his case was overwhelming, but I think that he would have fought for the title with better management.

Layne's main problem, was that he took on the most dangerous contenders too often, and ultimately burned himself out.

 

Layne certainly had better credentials than a lot of fellows who have fought for the championship.

I would wonder if Jensen had the right connections to get him a shot.

Don't know, but I am just wondering about that.

The fight with LaStarza was about as close as it could get. Had the decision gone to Layne, I imagine he would have gotten the shot at Marciano.

 

Layne only became a top notcher when he beat Wallcott. 7-8 months later he was beaten back to back by Rocky and Charles. That 7-8 month period was his opportunity but that was too short a time span to set up a hwt championship fight. More than likely Charles the champion already had booked that time period with championship bouts.

 

Charles had enough time to fit Layne in his schedule instead of one of those ham n eggers.