Rex Layne

Career

He did not start boxing until he joined the Army. Last spring Layne lost a close verdict to Utah State"s Dale Panter in the Utah Golden Gloves, but earned a trip to Boston acquiring the A.A.U. Intermountain amateur championship by a knockout. His final record stands at 50-17-3 (34 KO).

He was undefeated his first 17 fights.

On July 12, 1951, he lost by 6th round KO to Rocky Marciano. Marciano"s knockout punch sheared off four of Layne"s upper, front teeth at the gumline and sent his mouthpiece bouncing with teeth included out of the ring.

Was Featured on the cover of the May 1951 The Ring magazine. His outstanding career featured wins over such champions as Ezzard Charles and Joe Walcott, as well as other notable contenders such as Bob Satterfield.

Achievements

• "When they sent out a call for boxing candidates at Soporo, Japan, he won the heavyweight championship of our troops in Nippon. 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. In the Hub he won four bouts, three by knockouts, to account for the national championship." Rex Layne was a Salt Lake City sugar beet farmer when he won the 1949 National Amateur Athletic Union Heavyweight Championship.