Lou Nova (March 16, 1913 â€" September 29, 1991) aka Cosmic punch was
an American boxer and actor. Born in Los Angeles, California, the 6 ft
3 1â „2 in (1.92 m) Nova was the U.S. and World Amateur Boxing
Champion in 1935. After turning pro, he remained undefeated in his
first 22 matches, and won 40 fights in total. He was the first top
rated boxer to practice yoga, and reportedly did headstands in the
dressing room before his title bout with Joe Louis.In 1938, Nova
gained an upset win over Britain's Tommy Farr in a 15-round decision.
Nova had Farr near a knockout in the 14th round when Referee Eddie
Josephs started counting as he lay in the ropes. However, Farr resumed
the fight after the count reached two. Both men were in a state of
exhaustion in the last round. This fight put Nova on the American
boxing map as a potential heavyweight title contender.He went on to
defeat Max Baer in the first televised heavyweight prizefight June 1,
1939, on WNBT-TV in New York. The left side of Baer's face was
battered out of shape after ten rounds of the most excruciating
fighting he had ever undergone, and was bleeding so severely from a
severe laceration of the lower lip he could hardly breathe when the
referee stopped the bout. Nova beat Baer again in 1941, although Nova
was knocked down for a brief one count in the 4th from a Baer right
hand. Baer was subsequently knocked down by a right for a nine count.
After he got up he was knocked down again by a right hand. Referee
Donovan stopped the bout when the count was at two.Nova was injured
badly in a fight with Tony Galento and was treated in hospital, almost
losing an eye.
an American boxer and actor. Born in Los Angeles, California, the 6 ft
3 1â „2 in (1.92 m) Nova was the U.S. and World Amateur Boxing
Champion in 1935. After turning pro, he remained undefeated in his
first 22 matches, and won 40 fights in total. He was the first top
rated boxer to practice yoga, and reportedly did headstands in the
dressing room before his title bout with Joe Louis.In 1938, Nova
gained an upset win over Britain's Tommy Farr in a 15-round decision.
Nova had Farr near a knockout in the 14th round when Referee Eddie
Josephs started counting as he lay in the ropes. However, Farr resumed
the fight after the count reached two. Both men were in a state of
exhaustion in the last round. This fight put Nova on the American
boxing map as a potential heavyweight title contender.He went on to
defeat Max Baer in the first televised heavyweight prizefight June 1,
1939, on WNBT-TV in New York. The left side of Baer's face was
battered out of shape after ten rounds of the most excruciating
fighting he had ever undergone, and was bleeding so severely from a
severe laceration of the lower lip he could hardly breathe when the
referee stopped the bout. Nova beat Baer again in 1941, although Nova
was knocked down for a brief one count in the 4th from a Baer right
hand. Baer was subsequently knocked down by a right for a nine count.
After he got up he was knocked down again by a right hand. Referee
Donovan stopped the bout when the count was at two.Nova was injured
badly in a fight with Tony Galento and was treated in hospital, almost
losing an eye.
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