Randall "Tex" Cobb

Randall Craig "Tex" Cobb (born May 7, 1950) is an American former professional boxer who competed in the heavyweight division. Widely considered to possess one of the greatest chins of all time,[1] Cobb was a brawler who also packed considerable punching power.[2] He began his fighting career in full contact kickboxing in 1975 before making the jump to professional boxing two years later. He challenged Larry Holmes for the WBC heavyweight title in November 1982, losing a one-sided unanimous decision. Cobb took wins over notable heavyweights of his era such as Bernardo Mercado, Earnie Shavers, and Leon Spinks.
In addition to his fighting career, he has also acted in numerous films and television series, usually appearing as a villain or henchman. Examples include roles in the Coen brothers film Raising Arizona and the popular programs Miami Vice and Walker, Texas Ranger.
== Early life ==
Randall Cobb was born in Bridge City, Texas, the son of Norma Grace (néeAlexander) and Williard Glynn Cobb, a factory foreman. He was raised in Abilene, Texas, and attended Abilene High School, where he played on the football team. Cobb later studied at Abilene Christian University, but dropped out at the age of 19, and began karate training. He lived in the dojo, cleaning the mats to earn his keep.[3] After earning his black belt, he craved full-contact competition, thus took up kickboxing, fighting in an era when only full contact rules were used in the United States. He won his first nine matches, going 9–0 with all knockouts.
He TKO'd El Paso Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion and karate black belt, David Ochoa, in the first-ever professional kickboxing event in El Paso, Texas, in 1975. The promoters were Robert Nava and boxing trainer Tom McKay under the guidance of boxing guru and matchmaker, Paul Clinite. Clinite signed Randall to a professional-boxing contract a few weeks later. He also signed Ochoa, who had fought amateur under the guidance of McKay as his trainer. Clinite provided films of heavyweight boxers to study to get the huge Cobb a good style. After a few days, it was decided that Randall should work at learning the "Joe Louis shuffle". Randall, Paul, and Tom spent a few months at El Paso's San Juan Boxing Gym just doing the simple basics. A few months later, Clinite made arrangements for Randall to be sent to Joe Frazier's gym in Philadelphia.
== Boxing career ==
After nine straight wins as a kickboxer, Cobb lost his first two amateur bouts. In his professional-boxing debut on January 19, 1977, in El Paso, he knocked out Pedro Vega. He went on to win 13 straight fights by 1979, all by knockout. Cobb was a fighter who had hitting power, as shown by his eighth-round knockout victory over Earnie Shavers in 1980. He lost his two following bouts to Ken Norton and Michael Dokes, respectively, but soon bounced back to earn a shot at Larry Holmes' WBC World Heavyweight Championship. On November 26, 1982, at Houston's Astrodome, Cobb was defeated in a unanimous decision by Holmes, who won all 15 rounds on two of three scorecards. The bloody one-sidedness of the fight, which came 13 days after the bout between Ray Manciniand Duk Koo Kim that led to Kim's death four days later due to brain trauma, so horrified sportscaster Howard Cosell that he vowed never to cover another professional match, which Cobb jokingly referred to as his "gift to the sport of boxing."[4] When prodded further regarding Cosell's remarks, Cobb observed, "Hey, if it gets him to stop broadcasting NFL games, I'll go play football for a week, too!"[citation needed] When asked if he would consider a rematch, Cobb replied that he did not think that Holmes would agree, as Holmes' "hands could not take it."[citation needed] In an interview after the Holmes fight, he was asked how he could fight someone whose arms were a foot longer than his were, to which he replied, "Oh, it seemed that way to you too?"[citation needed]
He made a brief return to kickboxing on May 5, 1984, to challenge John Jackson for the Professional Karate Association United States Heavyweight title in Birmingham, Alabama, losing on points. Between late 1984 and 1985, he lost four straight fights, the last of which was a knockout at the hands of Dee Collier, the only time he was ever KO'd. After a two-year hiatus, he made a return to the ring and went on a 20-fight undefeated streak against lightly regarded opponents (including a win over past-his-prime former champ Leon Spinks in 1988) before retiring again rather suddenly in 1993. A 1993 Sports Illustratedarticle alleged that Cobb had participated in a fixed fight with Sonny Barch and had used cocaine with Barch and promoter Rick "Elvis" Parker before and after the fight. Cobb said the magazine libeled him, and he sued for US$150 million. In 1999, a jury awarded Cobb $8.5 million in compensatory damages and $2.2 million in punitive damages. However, the verdict was overturned in 2002 by a federal appeals court, which said that the article was not published with "actual malice". The magazine did not interview the referee and other ringside officials who were at the match, which tends to show that the magazine "might not have acted as a prudent reporter would have acted", the ruling stated. "But the actual malice standard requires more than just proof of negligence".[5]
== Acting career ==
As a Hollywood actor, Cobb has played a series of villainous roles in films such as Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, Blind Fury, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Liar Liar, The Golden Child, Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult, Fletch Lives, and Ernest Goes to Jail. He has made guest appearances on several television shows, including Miami Vice, Highlander: The Series, Married... with Children, Moonlighting, Walker, Texas Ranger, MacGyver (as the character Earthquake), and The X-Files. Cobb's other appearances include the 1983 film Uncommon Valor, which reversed his villainous image; the 1987 movie Critical Condition, in which he plays a character in the psych ward who thinks he is a "brother" (an African American); The Champ, which referred to his boxing career by casting Cobb as a boxer who fights the title character, Billy Flynn; and Diggstown, in which he plays a prison inmate who fights at the behest of a con man. One of his more memorable roles is the menacing biker/bounty hunter Leonard Smalls in the 1987 Coen Brothers film Raising Arizona.
== Personal life ==
Cobb lives in Philadelphia, and maintained a friendship with Philadelphia Daily News columnist Pete Dexter, who frequently commented on boxing. In a notorious 1981 Grays Ferry incident, Cobb came to the defense of Dexter, who during the course of a bar brawl, was severely beaten.[6] Cobb rescued him and endured a broken arm, costing him a scheduled fight with Muhammad Ali. Ali then fought Trevor Berbick and lost.
In January 2008, at age 54, Cobb graduated magna cum laude from Temple University with a bachelor's degree in sport and recreation management. He remarked that it was odd to hear the cheers of a packed arena without being in a boxing ring. "It was nice to have that opportunity to wear a robe, to step up there and not have to worry about bleeding", Cobb said.[7] Cobb's eldest son Bo was killed in an accident in early 1999. His younger son Joshua pursued a short career as a boxer.
== Boxing record ==
42 Wins (35 knockouts, 7 decisions), 7 Losses (1 knockout, 6 decisions), 1 Draw, 1 No Contest[8]	42 Wins (35 knockouts, 7 decisions), 7 Losses (1 knockout, 6 decisions), 1 Draw, 1 No Contest[8]	42 Wins (35 knockouts, 7 decisions), 7 Losses (1 knockout, 6 decisions), 1 Draw, 1 No Contest[8]	42 Wins (35 knockouts, 7 decisions), 7 Losses (1 knockout, 6 decisions), 1 Draw, 1 No Contest[8]	42 Wins (35 knockouts, 7 decisions), 7 Losses (1 knockout, 6 decisions), 1 Draw, 1 No Contest[8]	42 Wins (35 knockouts, 7 decisions), 7 Losses (1 knockout, 6 decisions), 1 Draw, 1 No Contest[8]	42 Wins (35 knockouts, 7 decisions), 7 Losses (1 knockout, 6 decisions), 1 Draw, 1 No Contest[8]	42 Wins (35 knockouts, 7 decisions), 7 Losses (1 knockout, 6 decisions), 1 Draw, 1 No Contest[8]
Result 	Record 	Opponent 	Type 	Round, time 	Date 	Location 	Notes
Win 	42–7–1 (1) 	Andre Smiley 	TKO 	2 (8) 	1993-06-07 	Joel Coliseum,Winston-Salem, North Carolina 	
Win 	41–7–1 (1) 	Mike Acklie 	TKO 	6 (8) 	1993-05-01 	Lincoln, Nebraska 	
Win 	40–7–1 (1) 	Guile Wilkinson 	PTS 	6 (6), 3:00 	1993-04-19 	Saint Louis, Missouri 	
Win 	39–7–1 (1) 	John Warrior 	KO 	1 (?) 	1993-03-30 	Kemper Arena,Kansas City, Missouri 	
Win 	38–7–1 (1) 	Mike Smith 	KO 	1 (?) 	1993-03-01 	Allis Plaza Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri 	
Win 	37–7–1 (1) 	Paul Lewis 	KO 	3 (?) 	1993-01-19 	Boise Centre,Boise, Idaho 	
Win 	36–7–1 (1) 	Jim Taylor 	KO 	1 (?) 	1992-12-03 	Myriad Convention Center,Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 	
Win 	35–7–1 (1) 	Rick Kellar 	TKO 	4 (?) 	1992-11-28 	North Platte, Nebraska 	
Win 	34–7–1 (1) 	Jeff May 	TKO 	1 (10) 	1992-10-27 	The Palace,Auburn Hills, Michigan 	
NC 	33–7–1 (1) 	Sonny Barch 	NC 	1 (10), 1:10 	1992-09-15 	War Memorial Auditorium,Fort Lauderdale, Florida 	Originally a TKO win for Cobb, overturned to a no contest after both fighters tested positive for cocaine
Win 	33–7–1 	Leon Spinks 	MD 	10 (10), 3:00 	1988-03-18 	Nashville Municipal Auditorium,Nashville, Tennessee 	
Win 	32–7–1 	Michael Johnson 	KO 	6 (?) 	1987-05-29 	Birmingham, Alabama 	
Win 	31–7–1 	Aaron Brown 	KO 	5 (?) 	1987-05-11 	Finkey's Bar, Daytona Beach, Florida 	
Draw 	30–7–1 	Bill Duncan 	TD 	1 (?) 	1987-04-17 	Springfield, Missouri 	
Win 	30–7 	Rick Kellar 	TKO 	2 (10), 2:26 	1987-04-07 	Lincoln, Nebraska 	
Win 	29–7 	Louis Pappin 	TKO 	1 (10) 	1987-04-06 	Terre Haute, Indiana 	
Win 	28–7 	Frank Lux 	TKO 	2 (10), 0:55 	1987-03-31 	Madison Central High School,Richmond, Kentucky 	
Win 	27–7 	Stan Johnson 	KO 	1 (10) 	1987-03-26 	Fayetteville, Arkansas 	
Win 	26–7 	Frank Lux 	KO 	2 (?) 	1987-03-21 	Springfield, Missouri 	
Win 	25–7 	Phil Rendine 	KO 	2 (?) 	1987-03-12 	Hot Springs, Arkansas 	
Loss 	24–7 	Dee Collier 	KO 	1 (10), 2:33 	1985-10-29 	Reseda Country Club,Reseda, California 	
Loss 	24–6 	Eddie Gregg 	UD 	10 (10), 3:00 	1985-05-20 	Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada 	
Loss 	24–5 	Michael Dokes 	TD 	4 (12), 1:03 	1985-03-15 	Riviera,Las Vegas 	For the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Championship, the bout was stopped due to an accidental foul.
Loss 	24–4 	James Douglas 	MD 	10 (10), 3:00 	1984-11-09 	Riviera, Las Vegas 	
Win 	24–3 	Mark Lee 	MD 	10 (10), 3:00 	1984-09-13 	Houston 	
Win 	23–3 	Ernie Smith 	KO 	1 (?) 	1984-08-17 	Houston 	
Win 	22–3 	Ruben Williams 	UD 	10 (10), 3:00 	1984-02-22 	Civic Auditorium,Bakersfield, California 	
Win 	21–3 	Mike Jameson 	UD 	10 (10), 3:00 	1983-09-29 	Circle Star Theater,San Carlos, California 	
Loss 	20–3 	Larry Holmes 	UD 	15 (15), 3:00 	1982-11-26 	Reliant Astrodome, Houston 	For the WBC World Heavyweight Championship
Win 	20–2 	Jeff Shelburg 	TKO 	7 (10) 	1982-04-19 	Resorts Casino Hotel,Atlantic City, New Jersey 	
Win 	19–2 	Bernardo Mercado 	PTS 	10 (10), 3:00 	1981-11-06 	Civic Arena, Atlantic City 	
Win 	18–2 	Harry Terrell 	KO 	5 (10) 	1981-05-21 	HemisFair Arena, San Antonio 	
Loss 	17–2 	Michael Dokes 	MD 	10 (10), 3:00 	1981-03-22 	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas 	
Loss 	17–1 	Ken Norton 	SD 	10 (10), 3:00 	1980-11-07 	HemisFair Arena, San Antonio 	
Win 	17–0 	Earnie Shavers 	TKO 	8 (10), 2:19 	1980-08-02 	Joe Louis Arena,Detroit 	
Win 	16–0 	Robert Echols 	KO 	1 (?) 	1980-05-31 	El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas 	
Win 	15–0 	Roy Wallace 	UD 	10 (10), 3:00 	1980-05-09 	El Paso, Texas 	
Win 	14–0 	Eusebio Hernandez, Jr. 	KO 	1 (?) 	1980-03-21 	El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas 	
Win 	13–0 	Terry Mims 	KO 	5 (?) 	1979-10-24 	Scranton, Pennsylvania 	
Win 	12–0 	Don Halpin 	KO 	3 (?) 	1979-08-28 	Atlantic City 	
Win 	11–0 	Jesse Crown 	KO 	2 (?) 	1979-04-27 	Robert Treat Hotel,Newark, New Jersey 	
Win 	10–0 	Zack Ferguson 	TKO 	1 (?), 2:54 	1979-04-03 	Spectrum, Philadelphia 	
Win 	9–0 	Rodell Dupree 	TKO 	6 (10) 	1978-11-11 	Boston Garden,Boston 	
Win 	8–0 	Paul Solomon 	KO 	2 (?) 	1978-04-07 	Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles 	
Win 	7–0 	Don Hinton 	KO 	1 (?) 	1978-03-29 	Silver Slipper, Las Vegas 	
Win 	6–0 	Dave Martinez 	KO 	1 (10) 	1978-03-17 	The Aladdin, Las Vegas 	
Win 	5–0 	David Wynne 	KO 	2 (?) 	1977-07-08 	San Diego Coliseum,San Diego 	
Win 	4–0 	Ernie Smith 	TKO 	3 (?) 	1977-05-10 	El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas 	
Win 	3–0 	Trinidad Escamilla 	KO 	1 (?), 1:56 	1977-04-02 	San Antonio Convention Center, San Antonio 	
Win 	2–0 	Tyrone Harlee 	KO 	2 (?) 	1977-03-11 	Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia 	
Win 	1–0 	Pedro Vega 	TKO 	1 (4) 	1977-01-21 	El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas 	
== Kickboxing record ==
Kickboxing record 	Kickboxing record 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
9 wins (9 KOs), 2 losses, 0 draws
{| class="wikitable"	Date 	Result 	Opponent 	Event 	Location 	Method 	Round 	Time
1984-05-05 	Loss 	John Jackson 	 	Birmingham, Alabama 	Decision 	12 	2:00 	
For the PKA United States Heavyweight Championship.	For the PKA United States Heavyweight Championship.	For the PKA United States Heavyweight Championship.	For the PKA United States Heavyweight Championship.	For the PKA United States Heavyweight Championship.	For the PKA United States Heavyweight Championship.	For the PKA United States Heavyweight Championship.	For the PKA United States Heavyweight Championship.	For the PKA United States Heavyweight Championship.
1983-00-00 	Win 	Anthony Elmore 	 	 	Decision 	 	 	
1975-04-18 	Win 	David Ochoa 	 	El Paso, Texas 	TKO 	2 	 	
== Filmography ==
Film
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1979	The Champ 	Bowers 	
1983	Uncommon Valor 	Sailor 	
1983	Braker 	R.E. Packard 	Television film
1986	The Golden Child 	Til 	
1987	Critical Condition 	Box 	
1987	The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission 	Eric "Swede" Wallan	Television film
1987	Raising Arizona 	Leonard Smalls 	
1987	Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol	Zack 	
1987	Buy & Cell 	Wolf 	
1989	Fletch Lives 	Ben Dover 	
1989	Collision Course 	Kosnic 	
1989	Blind Fury 	Slag 	
1990	Ernest Goes to Jail 	Lyle 	
1991	Raw Nerve 	Blake Garrett 	
1992	Diggstown 	Wolf Forrester 	
1994	Ace Ventura: Pet Detective 	Gruff Man 	
1994	Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult 	Big Hairy Con 	
1996	The Mouse 	Himself 	
1997	Liar Liar 	Skull 	
1998	The Next Tenant 	 	
2000	Vice 	Lt. Munson 	
Television
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1985 	Code of Vengeance 	Willard Singleton 	
1985 	Hardcastle and McCormick	Dennis "Corky" Conklyn 	Episode: "The Career Breaker"
1987 	Miami Vice 	Moon 	Episode: "Down for the Count (Part 1)"
1987 	Moonlighting 	Big guy in gas station 	Episode: "Sam & Dave"
1987 	Frank's Place 	Cyrus Litt 	Episode: "Food Fight"
1988 	MacGyver 	Daniel Royce "Earthquake" Toberman 	Episode: "The Spoilers"
1990–91	In the Heat of the Night	Frank Kloot 	Episodes: "A Problem Too Personal" and "No Other Road"
1993 	Married... with Children	The Burglar 	Episode: "Un-Alful Entry"
1993 	Shaky Ground 	Ned 	Episode: "Stayin' Alive"
1994 	Highlander: The Series 	Kern 	Episode: "Line of Fire"
1998 	Walker, Texas Ranger 	Dwight Trammel 	Episode: "Survival"
2000 	The X-Files 	Bert Zupanic 	Episode: "Fight Club"
2001 	Walker, Texas Ranger 	Ross Dollarhide / 'flashbacks', Desperado	Episode: "The Final Showdown"