Lastarza,Layne, ****ell,Mathews v Usyk ?

[Willie Pep 229]

From Wikipedia

La Starza later won a heavyweight title eliminator against Rex Layne, setting himself up for what was arguably the most important fight of his career: a world heavyweight championship bout that was a rematch against Marciano on September 24, 1953.

La Starza record was as good as Valdes (actually with fewer loses) when he got his shot against Marciano.

Was 37-0-0 when he lost a squeaker to a pre-titled Marciano and then beat Rex Layne for his shot.

Looks as worthy as anyone else at the time.

[Ivich]

From Wikipedia

La Starza later won a heavyweight title eliminator against Rex Layne, setting himself up for what was arguably the most important fight of his career: a world heavyweight championship bout that was a rematch against Marciano on September 24, 1953.

La Starza record was as good as Valdes (actually with fewer loses) when he got his shot against Marciano.

Was 37-0-0 when he lost a squeaker to a pre-titled Marciano and then beat Rex Layne for his shot.

Looks as worthy as anyone else at the time.

Nope. Lastarza had beaten just 1 ranked fighter Layne who was by then seriously on the slide and was 10lbs heavier than he had been when Marciano butchered him he would win just 1 of his next 5 fights.
Lastarza had won just 1 of his previous 2 contests against a journeyman lhy 14-9-2 and had been dropped in their 1 st fight. Lastarza lost to Marciano 3 years earlier and he admitted ina Ring interview his manger turned down all the dangerous contenders hoping to parlay that earlier close fight into a title shot. Valdes had 4 straight losses before he went on the 11 fight winning tear but 3 of them were to Baker,Johnson ,and Moore, men Lastarza avoided do you think he would have beaten them? Because his manager didnt ! The other one to make up the 4 that beat him at that time was Billy Gilliam who did manage to beat Agramonte,Bean,draw withCestac and beat Baker once,he also stopped Rocky Jones in 4 ,the guy that floored and beat Lastarza 2 fights before he met Marciano.
Lastarza was a protected fighter who was kept clear of the dangerous guys, the list of the men he never faced is a very long one.
If he had faced
Moore
Johnson
Charles
Baker
Jackson
Sys
Neuhaus
As Valdes did in that time frame
Don't you think he would have more losses on his record?

[QueensburyRules]

Yes 53 and 55 but in between he posted 11 wins and 3 of them were ranked.It was a better current record than Charles whom he had beaten.

- - Watching U beat U self up with Valdez daily almost as good as if U had video of U hooked up to U butte kicking machine...priceless...