- Rex Layne
Rex Layne was born in Lewiston,
Utah onJune 7 ,1928 . He died onJune 7 ,2000 Background
According to the Oct. 29, 1949
Tacoma News Tribune , Layne was a Mormon who was a staff sergeant with an airborne division inWorld War II for 19 months, serving some time in Japan. He did not start boxing until he joined the Army. "When they sent out a call for boxing candidates atSoporo, Japan , he won the heavyweight championship of our troops inNippon . Returning home in 1947, he dropped a close decision in an Olympic tryout to Jay Lambert, who won the United States Olympic title, and lost a decision in the London semifinals. Last spring Layne lost a close verdict to Utah State's Dale Panter in the UtahGolden Gloves , but earned a trip to Boston acquiring the A.A.U. Intermountain amateur championship by a knockout. In the Hub he won four bouts, three by knockouts, to account for the national championship."Amateur career
Rex Layne was a
Salt Lake City sugar beet farmer when he won the 1949National AAU Heavyweight Championship .Professional career
His final record stands at 50-17-3 (34 KO). He was undefeated his first 17 fights.
He fought legendary boxer
Rocky Marciano and lost by 6th round KO. Marciano's knockout punch sheared off four of Layne's upper, front teeth at the gumline and sent his mouthpiece ten feet across the ring.Trivia
*Was Featured on the cover of the May 1951 The Ring magazine.
References
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External links
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP3UManJNsw Video of Layne's loss to Rocky Marciano ]
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