Lou Nova vs. Bill Petersen

Bill Petersen 198 lbs lost to Lou Nova 204 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1944-06-16
• Location: Baseball Park, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
• Referee: Tony Cancela
• Judge: Charlie Baker
• Judge: Steve Freel

"Lou Nova of California, 204, won a decision over Bill Peterson of Chicago, 198, in a hard-fought 10-round bout here last night. Peterson held his own through the first two rounds, but Nova used his 'cosmic punch' to take the next three rounds by a clear margin. Peterson rallied in the 6th and bloodied Nova's right eye and opened a cut over Nova's left eye in the 7th. Nova kept ahead from the 8th round to the finish with sharp lefts and occasional hard rights to the head. The bout finished in a free for all with Nova getting in slightly more solid punches and appearing fresher despite the cuts on his face." -Associated Press

• Promoter Jack Lakin audaciously called this bout for the 'Duration Heavyweight Championship'. Possibly because the Duration champion Jimmy Bivins, had recently joined champion Joe Louis in the Service. However, this was not taken seriously.