This one has always miffed me. Layne's homeboy Dempsey was the ref and sole judge. Jack scored 7 of the 10 rounds even, essentially making it a 3 round fight which Layne took 2-1. According the NYT, Dempsey awarded Layne the victory solely on aggression and "wanting to mix it".. and the writers had Charles winning. Yet, Layne walks away having "beaten" another former champ. Was it filmed? Any other thoughts?
From boxrec. Also, it should be noted that those scores from the Salt Lake Tribune and Rocky Mountain News were Layne's hometown papers and still favored Charles. "While there still may remain lingering doubts in the minds of some fight fans as to the superiority of Rex Layne over Ezzard Charles, the International Boxing Club made its stand clear Saturday by offering Layne a title shot at the winner of the Rocky Marciano-Jersey Joe Walcott fight. Even as the fans continued their arguments over referee Jack Dempsey's verdict Friday, which gave the underdog Layne a surprise decision over Charles, the IBC stepped forward with its blessing for Layne." -Salt Lake Tribune Unofficial scorecards Ring Magazine - 5-5 Draw Salt Lake Tribune - 6-3-1 Charles Rocky Mountain News - 5-3-2 Charles Attendance - (over) 17,000 Gate - $129,058.10 Purses - Charles - a guarantee with an option of 35% of the gate, Layne - a flat 35% of the gate. Post fight comments "We haven't talked about a rematch with Charles as yet. Naturally, a fighter will fight anyone if enough money is at stake. But right now we are looking forward to the championship, and we can't see any percentage in fighting Charles again." -Marv Jensen, Layne's manager. "I called it as I saw it. Charles wasn't fighting; Layne was. It was a close fight, that's why I called seven of the rounds even." -Jack Dempsey, the referee and sole arbiter. "That Dempsey was nothing but a thief." -Jake Mintz, co-manager of Charles. "Dempsey is a wrestling referee; he should stick to wrestling." -Ray Arcel, Charles' trainer.
Round by Round http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...opaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IU8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4979,3324589 Nat Fleischer in his write-up for The Ring, scored it 5-5 in rounds. Jack Hurley scored it 6-4 for Layne.
Nat Fleischer wrote in the RING "The left which heretofore hadn't been used too effectively by Layne, was working perfectly during most of the fight. He had trained hard to get the left hook operating with force, and he utilized the punch repeatedly and effectively. Deviating from his habit in his previous bouts against top men, Layne followed up his blows and was sharper on the attack than ever before. He had a big margin during the first six rounds but lost that advantage in the final sessions. In my opinion the fight was a draw. I handed Layne five rounds and six points and had the same tally for Charles."
