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

Seen Marciano 1 a few times. Idk why he bores me but he does. I actually haven’t seen Charles Johnson and will check it out love both fighters but they both can be a little boring

 

It's a great tactical fight. Think McCallum vs Toney I or Kalambay-Curry II.

 

Awesome fight one of my favorites.

 

Yeah, definitely a good fight. I've had it a draw each time I've seen it, but Charles' left hook in the final round should've absolutely been a KD.

 

Well, even Dempsey (who was plenty yoked) complained that Layne was soft and didn't train hard enough.

But no, my problem with him is that sometimes his style writes checks his reflexes and speed can't cash. And other times, he is a bafflingly poor boxer, lunging, off balance, poor shot selection.

Other than that, he was very tough. He could take a beating to stay in a fight.

 

I like different fighters…should say unique. Styles like Charles and Johnson I respect all the way but the style is so common today. Now guys like Layne, Marciano, Frazier, Tyson, Byrd, Mayweather, Archie, Foreman, Baer, Matthews, Ali intrigue me because they are different. Unique also wins.

 

Why lack of love for pre-1930 fighters then?

 

Lol that’s not a terrible way of looking at it (cashing the check that is). They gave a Layne an interview as an old man and he even lamented on regretting not training hard enough. Before Marciano he had his moments. But he had that Baer Foreman style relying on his power to much and it worked on lesser fighters but the better the competition the worse the style was as he didn’t have that kind of power some but not that good. His one two was excellent and he was a tough ******* w an awkward style. Even when he stopped training and was just collecting checks he hung in there w everyone from Baker to Lastarza to Charles in very close s/d fights.

 

I feel the mechanics of punching was just to off. Archie Moore was style and function. Ali style and function (had his flaws too). Marciano style and function. Some guys and you’ve pointed out some guys that made me relax my stance a little but those guys were the exception of the time not really the rule. I also don’t think Max Baer is that functional today but he’s entertaining as hell and with some tweaking would be a beast today. So I can find them entertaining but as far as h2h goes some of them are just to much adapted to a sport w different rules. Fitz on film looks terrible. But he was built for a different time and the sport was different I don’t hold it against him.

 

So you really think that someone like Layne looks better than Fitzsimmons?

 

It's a wonderful way of looking at it. I gave myself a pat on the back for it.

He had the style of Baer and Foreman in that regards but little of the talent.

He was tough. I repeat that for the third time. Pierre Coetzer was tough, too.