Underrated Charles KO and Performance: Ezzard Charles vs. Rex Layne I

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1. Layne is in the trimmest shape I've ever seen him in! He looks fantastic. The opener was a decent one. Layne pressed, with Charles naturally outboxing Layne. Charles.
2. Layne made several attempts at an attack on the body, but Charles tied each of them up. Charles.
3. This time there was a lot of mean punching between the two, despite having their arms intertwined. Layne was the busier man IMO. Layne.
4. Charles rocked Layne with a powerful left-right combo (though the effect was light), early on in the round. Layne closed the stronger of the two. Charles.
5. Neither man landing cleanly. Even.
6. Charles now coming back in front again, capitalizing upon Layne's waning energy. Charles.
7. It was here that I really started to realize what a helluva job Charles had done of blocking Layne's punches. Layne continued to tire more and more, eventually falling to the floor, while still holding on to Charles. Afterwards, Charles had his best moment of the fight so far. A three-punch salvo: left hook, right cross, left hook, rocked Layne badly and had him staggered. Charles also added in some nice hooks to the body throughout the remaining parts of the round. Charles.
8. Another brilliant realization. When Layne throws a punch, Charles counters, not with a punch, but with his own arm. He counters with a block. He would extend his hand to meet Layne's stopping Layne's fist from reaching target. Charles.
9. Charles started with a savage flurry; Layne back for the first time since the 4th or 5th. Not that Layne came close to seizing the round. Layne gained some steam near the end. Charles.
10. Layne seems to think he can jab Ez, but only gets schooled. The action that occurred late in the round was a bit in the making. At about 30: 21, Charles, with landed a good left hook. Layne, hurt, drove Charles into the ropes. Charles launched a left hook, which Layne ducked, and Charles slipped back, but stablized his left arm on the back of Layne's neck, and actually turned it into an advantageous situation for himself. A right hand on Layne's back got Layne to turn around, where Charles doubled up a right hook on Layne, then landed a left hook, a long right (now Layne's in trouble), a left hook, a right hook to the body, another left hook, another long right, and another left hook. Layne is reeling back into the ropes by this time, in serious trouble. A right hand brought Layne back forward, and left and right hooks dropped Layne. I was surprised actually, when Layne beat the count. He looked totally done when he went down. It looked to me as if he was saved by the bell. Charles.
11. For most of the 11th it would appear that Layne was just tired and not hurt, like he was before the 10th. Charles punched steadily although he landed nothing big. Finally, a left hook and a BIG overhand right dropped Layne (slight delayed reaction). Layne hit the deck like a bag of wet cement. He got up before the count was up, but the referee wisely did not allow Layne to continue. Watch the knockout in slow motion. I did and saw that left hook that Charles through was either blocked by Layne or simply didn't land. It was a one-punch knockout.

Final score going into the 11th: 8-1-1 for Charles.

Verdict: Not a great fight, although not a bad one. But it was a good performance and great knockout by Charles. THIS IS one of the best displays of Charles' underrated power. I said Charles was a tiger after seeing the knockout, and although my dad was surprised by the knockout, he still felt he had to say "Charles is a bum." Hell, I don't understand him. I reminded him that at least Charles knocked him out, whereas Walcott did not, though he still insists Walcott beat Layne. Whether he did or not, he did not knock Layne out.
This is one of Charles' best heavyweight wins and knockouts IMO. See it!

 

@George Crowcroft? Watcha think?

 

I would have to agree for the most part. Of course he wasn't better than Walcott, but he's as good as 1950 Joe Louis. Maxim, idk.

 

My pleasure. Have fun and let me know what you think of the fight. It is an excellent one.

 

Are you kidding? He looked horrible against Marciano. He was real pudgy in that one. I agree with you he wasn't as sharp though.

 

Charles was dull in the early recordings, but have you seen Marciano 1 and Johnson? Those are damn good fights. George Crowcroft will vouch for those also.

 

Not to mention Walcott II & III being immortal bouts.