Randall Tex Cobb is a former professional boxer, actor, and kickboxer. He was born on May 7, 1950, in Bridge City, Texas, USA. He attended Abilene Christian University, where he played football and earned a degree in physical education.
Cobb began his professional boxing career in 1979 and quickly gained a reputation as a hard-hitting heavyweight. He had a record of 42 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw, with 35 of his wins coming by way of knockout. He fought against some of the top names in the heavyweight division, including Larry Holmes, Leon Spinks, and Michael Dokes.
In addition to boxing, Cobb also competed in kickboxing and had a record of 9 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. He was known for his powerful kicks and striking ability.
Further, he had a successful acting career, appearing in films such as “Raising Arizona,” “Ernest Goes to Camp,” and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.” He often played tough-guy roles and was known for his intimidating presence on screen.
Outside of boxing and acting, Cobb was also a professional arm wrestler and competed in several tournaments.
In recent years, Cobb has largely stayed out of the public eye. However, he remains a beloved figure among boxing fans and is remembered for his hard-hitting style and entertaining fights.
Randall Tex Cobb Early Life
Randall Cobb was born in Bridge City, Texas, the son of Norma Grace (née Alexander) 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.
After earning his black belt, he craved full-contact competition, and 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.
How Randall Tex Cobb pursued boxing
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 on 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.
Career
Randall “Tex” Cobb had a professional boxing career that spanned from 1977 to 1993, during which he compiled a record of 43 wins (with 36 by knockout), 7 losses, and 1 draw. Here are some of the notable events in his boxing career:
Cobb turned pro in 1977 and won his first 11 fights by knockout. He quickly gained a reputation as a hard-hitting brawler with a granite chin.
In 1980, Cobb fought future heavyweight champion Larry Holmes for the WBC heavyweight title. Despite taking a brutal beating and suffering a broken cheekbone, Cobb managed to last 15 rounds before losing by unanimous decision.
Cobb fought Earnie Shavers in a legendary slugfest that many consider being one of the greatest heavyweight fights of all time in 1982. Both men traded knockdowns before Cobb finally knocked out Shavers in the eighth round.
In 1983, he fought Michael Dokes for the WBA heavyweight title. Although Cobb managed to knock Dokes down in the first round, he ultimately lost by TKO in the tenth round.
Additionally, in 1985, Cobb fought Leon Spinks in a fight that was supposed to be a tune-up for Spinks before a potential rematch with Muhammad Ali. However, Cobb shocked the boxing world by knocking out Spinks in the fifth round.
In 1988, Cobb fought future heavyweight champion George Foreman. Despite being a heavy underdog, Cobb managed to go the distance with Foreman, losing by unanimous decision.
Cobb’s last professional fight was in 1993 when he was knocked out in the second round by journeyman fighter Billy Wright.
Outside of boxing, Cobb also had a successful career as an actor, appearing in films such as “Raising Arizona,” “Ernest Goes to Camp,” and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.”
Randall Tex Cobb Acting Career
Randall Tex Cobb is a former professional boxer who turned to acting after retiring from the sport. He began his acting career in the early 1980s and appeared in several films and television shows over the years.
One of Cobb’s early film roles was in the 1982 crime drama “The Concrete Jungle,” in which he played a prison guard. He also appeared in the 1984 film “Raising Arizona,” playing the character of Leonard Smalls. In 1985, he played the role of Franco in the action film “Code of Silence.”
He continued to appear in a number of films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including “Ernest Goes to Camp” (1987), “Fletch Lives” (1989), and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” (1994). He also had roles in several television shows, such as “Matlock,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and “JAG.”
The top heavyweight’s most notable role came in the 1991 film “Unlawful Entry,” in which he played the character of Officer Pete Davis. He received critical acclaim for his performance in the film, which also starred Kurt Russell and Ray Liotta.
In addition to his acting career, Cobb also worked as a professional wrestler in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He later became a mixed martial arts fighter and fought in several matches.
Randall Tex Cobb’s acting career was a diverse and varied one, spanning several decades and including roles in a wide range of films and television shows.
Here are some notable movies in which Randall “Tex” Cobb has acted:
- Raising Arizona (1987)
- The Golden Child (1986)
- Uncommon Valor (1983)
- Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
- Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
- Liar Liar (1997)
- The Fighter (2010)
- Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994)
- Fletch Lives (1989)
- The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (1987)
- The Lone Ranger (2013)
- Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)
- Rapid Fire (1992)
- Escape to Witch Mountain (1995)
- The Mutilator (1984)
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.
Cobb rescued him and endured a broken arm, costing him a scheduled fight with Mike Weaver.
Cobb’s eldest son Bo was killed in an accident in early 2001. His younger son Joshua pursued a short career as a boxer.
In January 2008, at age 57, Cobb graduated magna cum laude from Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in sports 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.
Relationship
Cobb has been married twice, first to Sharon Cobb in 1987, and they later divorced. He then married Teri Cobb, but it’s unclear when they tied the knot. It’s also unknown if he has any children.
Aside from his professional endeavors, Cobb is known for his love of hunting and fishing, and he has also worked as a professional rodeo cowboy. In recent years, he has continued to make occasional appearances in film and television, including roles in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “The Sopranos.”