The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-05
NOVA RATES AS BEST OF FOES
 FOR JOE LOUIS
New Title Contender PrOv- ed He Can Take a Punch
 Then Win
BY HARRY FERGUSON United Press Shorts Editor

New York, April 5--(UP)-It wlll be an awful loss to the gaiety ot nations, but 1t looks like we iave seen the last of Maxie Baer.
 He staggered to his corner after two minutes and 18 seconds of the eighth round last night, left eye puffed shut, lips gashed and crifn- son trickling from his nose. Lou Nova, the man who was on the brink of the grave from blood poisoning little over 8 year ago, had given Maxie an artistic go- ing over and had won on a techni- cal knockout.
 Nova's victory and Billy Conn's triumph over Gunnar Barlund in Chicago last evening left the leavy- weight situation in a muddle. The original plan had been for Cham- pion Joe Louis to have a return bout with Abe Simon here on May 3. Conn was to get Q chance at the heavyweight title in June and Nova a shot at 1t in September. But early today Promoter Mike Jacobs said there would be a shift in the plans. He declined to say what 1t would be. Jacobs said he was greatly impressed by the per- forrlance Nova staged last night,
 One man definitely out of the pic- ture Is Baer. Maybe he won't re. tire, but he should. He refused to commit himself about quitting the ring after they led him into his dressing room with his senses reel ing from two right-hand jolts that sent him to the floor in the eighth round. But Ancil Hoffman. his manager, took one look at Maxie's face and said significantly: "A man can't go on forever"
 Maybe not, but for few l,eart- stopping seconds in the fourth round 1t seemed that Baer was about to turn one of those amazing tricks that have made him 8 draw ing card for 12 years. He loopedi three long rights to Nova's Jaw, and Lou's knees almost folded. A look Of bewilderment came over Baer's lace as Nova, instead of reeling into the resin, dove in and jabbed him on the eye.
 After that 1t was Nova's fight. A darting left jab made Baer's face look like Q relief map of Asia in red and white, and the eighth round Nova shot across @ right to the flaw that sent Maxie rolling under the ropes. He was up at the count of nine and Nova measured him with another right. This time Baer hit the deck in mid-ring and before he could get off of one knee, Referee Arthur Donovan stopped the fight.
 Until the time Nova closed Baer's left eye it had been good show, Maxie fought his usual fight, clown Ing TOT two minutes of each round, grimacing at Nova, beckoning him to come in and fight, and then put ting on a furry of punching for the other minute of the round.
 The customers -- 22,1l4 of them and they paid $95, ,544.17-loved 1t all the way. If this is the end of Maxie. he left them with a smile, for after Donovan stopped the fight Baer rushed across the ring and tried to throw another punch at Nova over the referees shoulder.
 If and when Nova fights Louis, it should be worth going @ few miles 10 see. Lou was boxing nicely last night, he demonstrated that ho could take hard punch and seems to be recovered from the serious illness that kept him in Califor- mia hospital for almost a year. Baeu Knocked him down for Q count of one, but he got up and rushed back to the wars. Baer may be 32 years old and Q little tired from keeping the lights burning along the gay White Way, but when he winds up With that right, he still can punch. And the story of last nights fight IS that Nova can take 1t.