Bob Nestell
Name: Bob Nestell
Birth Name: Robert Edward Nestell
Hometown: Los Angeles, California, USA
Birthplace: Desert Hot Springs, California, USA
Died: 1975-12-01 (Age:60)
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 188cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record
Managers: Gus Wilson and Benny Ford
Bob Nestell became a highly-touted heavyweight in California in 1937, when he stopped both Lee Ramage and King Levinsky. Thought by some to be the next heavyweight champion from California, he showed good power and charisma, which translated well at the box office. In May 1937 he was matched with contender Bob Pastor in a potential title eliminator at Los Angeles's Wrigley Field in front of a crowd of around 27,000 that paid $85,000. After knocking down Pastor early in the bout, Nestell was knocked down and lost a wide decision.
Nestell came back after that and was defeated by former Light Heavyweight champion Maxie Rosenbloom. He was then matched with Lou Nova, who had replaced him as California's top heavyweight hope. Nova would knock Nestell out in the 8th round.
After the loss to Nova, it was clear Nestell had a glass chin, and had no further hope of seriously contending. Nestell was also not helped out by the fact that he often imitated Max Baer's clowning tactics and left his fragile chin exposed, as was the case in his knockout loss to Newsboy Millich.
Nestell joined the Army in 1942, where he was wounded by a grenade while fighting in the Italian campaign. He would spend 186 days in various hospitals, and was paralyzed from the waist down. Nestell would regain the use of his legs, and began working in the mines to regain his strength. He then began boxing again in 1946 and won over three lower level opponents, before ending his career with two straight knockout losses to Joe Kahut and Roy Hawkins.
Nestell has a small part in the 1937 Movie "Kid Galahad" (starring Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart) as one of the opponents.
References
- Boxing News Record Illustrated,page 14, 1937 Edition, CALIFORNIA HAS HEAVYWEIGHT PROSPECT IN BOB NESTELL, by Bill Potts, Los Angeles Examiner.
