It was a long time ago (early '90s)... maybe Gareth Nelson was one of them but not certain. But... I was at the 1989 Univ of Michigan performance of Rommy, "the world's first phylogenetic rock opera," even still have the tee shirt somewhere. Classics like "starch gel wizard" and "Willi Hennig superstar." Support for a hypothesis that at least a few scientists occasionally have a sense of humor. Was working with a couple of those ROM and Guelph guys on polyploid salamanders at the time.
Back OT: I was actually taught the hit-the-nose thing in high school gym class by a totally sadistic 300 lb wrestling coach. He was wrong about a lot of other things, so no surprise if this was another one. Only anecdotal info I can offer is that the last real fight I was in, also a long time ago, a drunk guy sucker punched me straight on in the nose. In return he got a forearm to the side of the head. I walked away a few seconds later, it was more like 10 minutes for him.