Welcome back to boxing after dark. In today's video we have to go all the way back to 1980, where Hollywood actor would put his boxing skills to the test, as he takes on his hardest opponent to date, Earnie Shavers.
Calling Tex Cobb a ‘Hollywood Actor’ is an unfair characterization. He was a real fighter and a tough heavyweight, and deserves more respect than that!
Randall "Tex" Cobb (not "Texas") had a record of 42-7 with 35 KOs while being knocked out only once. Plus he was a kickboxer, going 9-2 with 9 KOs. He was a fighter turned actor.
Sounds like we all missed out on the Norris Cobb fight of the century! (Yes, I know, and it's a joke. Pretty sure Norris is several weight classes below Cobb and not at all the same style as Boxing, just funny because he's also a martial artist turned actor)
Cobb had an Iron Chin went the distance with Holmes and beat Ernie Shavers. So yeah he was a badass. He would've went further in Hollywood but in an interview with Letterman he explained Hollywood is hard when a person refuses to kiss ass 😁😁
He was in good movies and was memorable too. Raising Arizona, Police Academy, Liar Liar, Ace Ventura, it’s like a memorable string of movies. He just happened to be a great boxer too. People can do more than one thing.
Ernie Shavers was an outstanding member of our community..may he rest in peace..When he passed away we all felt a profound sadness to lose him..Before his boxing career he was at one time a security guard at our local high school and went on to be a great fighter and he never forgot his fans
Wow that's totally amazing! What school was that Which part of America? He was indeed a great fighter as you can see to this day he is considered to be the hardest puncture that lived
Warren Reserve High School in Warren Ohio@@500res The school is no longer there because of population decline so they consolidated the two high schools into one..Mr. Shavers grew up in a small community named Braceville Ohio near Warren Ohio..Moved to Florida after boxing..He was very much respected in the community as many knew him from the school and he made everyone so proud..
He worked for many year as door security in lots of nightclubs in Liverpool for many years where he was loved and respected by all the public who met him ❤
@@alanmuldoon5587 when you say Liverpool do you mean the United Kingdom? As in where I'm from that's interesting I'm guessing in those days you could do that? Unless you mean a place in America?
Tex Cobb said "Earnie could punch you in the neck with his right hand and break your ankle." He also said, "if a man hit any harder than Earnie I'd shoot him."
Tex Cobb had one of the greatest quotes in history. He and his brothers were notorious badasses and when asked by a reporter who was the toughest in the family he instantly replied “My Mom”.
Another great quote from Tex Cobb was when the referee paused the fight between Cobb and Holmes because of Tex's profuse facial bleeding. The ref asked Tex "Do you know who I am?" Tex Cobb answered "Yeah. You are the other White guy in the ring".
@@bigguy7353 Most people with any sense that calling him "karate" and had left out the word "in", as in "black belt in karate". How you can't see that is baffling.
Man, anyone with a slight interest in boxing history knows that RTC was a genuine boxer, not just a Hollywood actor. Despite the clickbait title, I was pleased that the actual video narration makes this clear straightaway!
Cobb is the prime example as to how boxing has changed. As when most other boxers are mentioned, they had exceptional skill for the time. Cobb was just tough as all hell.
I met tex one day in the 90's in west philly. Down to earth guy. He was in married with children, we talked about the episode, he ended our conversation, with his classic phrase, "keep your hands up white boy."
I grew up watching these guys and they rarely let people down. How these guys took those punches is just amazing! Tex was so funny too. May Earnie rest in peace. What a puncher!
@@claudedalton8970Ridiculous comment. Over the weekend we just had two of the best fighters in the world fight for the undisputed welterweight title and we witnessed a true masterclass performance from Terence Crawford. We have Tyson Fury, and undefeated heavyweight champion. We have deontay Wilder arguably the hardest puncher in the world at this time. We have Canelo Alvarez who has won titles in several weight divisions including Light heavyweight. We have Olexander Usyk Who was undefeated and undisputed as a cruiserweight champion and who recently came up to the heavyweight division and defeated the 6'6 Anthony Joshua. Boxing is NOT dead, people are very susceptible to hype. If I recall, a UFC heavyweight champion is going to have a boxing match soon and receive probably a career high pay day. bOxIng iS dEaDd!!
@@spiros2310 THAT WASN'T FAKE. TEX HAD A CHIN LIKE FOREMAN/ALI COMBINED AND HE COULD PUNCH. EARNIE HAD A MONSTER PUNCH BUT TEX TOOK THEM AND WORE EARNIE DOWN. IF YOU FEEL THAT IT'S FAKE, WATCH HOLMES VS TEX COBB TO SEE HIS ABILITY TO TAKE A PUNCH. HE'S NOT THE KIND OF MAN YOU WOULD WANT TO GET PISSED OFF AS HE RARELY DID. CHECK OUT HIS FIGHT WITH NORTON TOO.
I saw this fight at a movie theater on closed circuit in 1980.After the fight an interviewer asked Cobb if he thought Shavers had lost his punch, Cobb said: "Why don't you get in there and find out?!!!" .
I saw Cobb on the Tonight show with Johnny Carson.. truly a gentleman, well spoken and generous in defeat. He reminded me of Mr Baseball Bob Ueuk in his one liners describing his inadequacies. Thoroughly enjoyable interview.
If it’s the same interview I watched I love Randell’s answer to Johnny when Johnny ask him how he liked acting. Randell said “Hell Johnny, acting is easy….anybody who has lived with a woman for six months can act”.
I met Ernie years ago at a boxing convention. I’ll never forgot when I shook his hand my hand disappeared and I’m not a small guy I’m 6ft4’ he had huge hands I’m not surprised he was one of the biggest knockout artists in boxing history. RIP Ernie
Cobb was an excellent fighter, and an even better man outside of the ring. Cobb was a serious threat to any pressure fighter, but with his style he had trouble with guys with quick lateral movement, and fast hands. Holmes was just too skilled, too quick, and too defensively sound for Cobb to catch him with anything significant before Holmes could circle out of punching range. Holmes could see everything coming at him. Unfortunately for Cobb, his style made him a walking target for Holmes jab and straight right hand, but that was the same case for almost everyone that went up against Holmes during the late 70's, and early 80's. Cobb had the skills to beat most fighters, but his slower, methodical style was tailor made for Holmes to exploit.
That was the fight that so disgusted Howard Cosell , because the ref refused to stop it when Cob fought for three rounds barely throwing a punch with Holmes just picking his shots and wailing away, that he retired calling fights
Tex Cobb was a Boxer before he Became an Actor. His first acting role was 1979 in the Champ. as a Boxer he fought from 1977-1993 where he was 42-7-1. He has 33 acting credits. His last roles being in Walker Texas Ranger. Uncommon Valor 1983 Miami Vice 1987 Down for the Count Fletch Lives 1989 Diggstown 1993 Ace Ventura 1994 Of his 33 acting Credits Movies 18 TV Movies 3 TV Series 12
Tex cobb's ability to absorb punishment without showing signs of pain is really out of this world especially considering how hard of a puncher Earnie shavers was
I remember his knockdown of Holmes and seeing the fans in the first few rows all mouthing "oh my god". I immediately thought Holmes was killed on the spot. Somehow he got right up
@@WhiskeyToroShavers lost even in his prime because he had no gas tank, it was no different here. The golden era rose tinted glasses are really a boomer commodity you can get rid of today
Agree. Ernie was still an incredibly hard puncher in 1980 and he hit Tex with absolute bombs, dozens of times. Ernie didn't lose here because of age. Ernie won most of the completed rounds of the fight. If Ernie was younger he may have lasted a round or two more. Anyone who saw Holmes blast Tex for 15 rds. knows. Tex took even more punishment against Holmes.
When Tex Cobb beat an older Shavers and split with Norton he was a dangerous undefeated iron jawed heavy handed fighter, He would have even been better if he trained full time, boxing was just a piece of his day to day life as he had so many other interests like Acting, Kickboxing, Karate and being a party animal a bit of a rugged renaissance man, He was one of those guys who was actually as tough as he looked and along with guys like LaMotta and Oliver McCall etc he had top notch whiskers
Cobb headhunted too much after he got someone hurt, instead of going to the body and create openings and folding them other, he got the taste of the ending coming, which can be very bad
So much so, Howard Cosell quit announcing boxing matches after Cobb took a fifteen-round absolute drubbing at the gloves of Larry Holmes, never going down. Not once. It was a long lesson in brutality Cosell couldn’t get over. (I’m sure you know this because you knew of Cobb’s legendary chin. I’m just sharing for the readers. Peace, brother.)
The uniqueness of the bone structure is Cobbs skull, coupled with musculature and tendons posteriorly around his neck made him able to absorb tremendous blows to the head. When someone gets knocked out or beaten silly it is the jerking of the head from the blow which crashes the brain against the occipital bone and turns the lights out. You could hit Cobb with a sledgehammer but he will not be knocked out. It is quite extraordinary.
He actually only became an actor because he became famous as a top 10 heavyweight boxing contender. Amazing so many people did not realize he was a boxer as he is a legend.
@@shawnduncan7846 , fletch lives was a rough watch. Chevy Chase was pumping out 10 movies per year at that point, and quality was a coin toss. For every classic, there were 5 flops. Nothing but trouble....woof. not even tex could go 10 rounds with that movie. It did teach me that Tupac was a member of the digital underground.
Cobb was a real life had ass, a true hardman.Shavers was one of the hardest punchers in history. I met Shavers when he was working the doors at Yates had in Liverpool, England. Absolute gentleman, really nice guy👍
You should see the Cobb vs Larry Holmes fight. That was a Rocky movie fight. It went the distance - 15 rounds. Holmes' punches landed appeared at times to be about 97%. At one point late in the fight, Holmes was hitting Cobb, then turning to the ref and asking him to stop it, then hitting him again and turning back to the ref. Cobb joked years later that Holmes was in the same hospital with him after the fight because of all the damage to his hands. Cobb's story had it that the two fighters kept visiting each other's room all night.
Tex Cobb was the toughest heavyweight of his generation. Earnie Shavers hit the hardest as Ali admitted but what this effort missed was many felt Shavers beat Ali. He pounded the heck out of him and not only went 15 championship rounds but probably won it if not for the Ali mystique. Want to add that I was fortunate to meet Shavers after he retired in downtown NYC. He was out spreading the word but the gleam in his eye showed the power of Christ that I will never forget. He looked great and more so, he was a man at peace in the world. When he passed, I felt real sadness but I hope Earnie reached the Kingdom. Great fighter and a lovely man. God rest his soul.
Great video! I had a lot of respect for Ernie as a fighter. Anyone who went into the ring with him, knew they were in for a world of hurt. Sadly he was taken from us far to soon!
I knew Earnie Shavers from the gyms in the Akron Canton area and had an opportunity to spar with him once. He was just fooling around arm punching with an open glove because I was a welterweight. Even then when he hit you you got that sinking feeling. I was surprised when Earnie got KO'ed by Jerry Quarry. Earnie was a great guy everyone liked him who knew him.
If Earnie Shavers would've developed a jab to go with that right hand, he would've been a HW Champion. Even without it, when he fought Holmes the second time, he hit Holmes so hard he was totally unconscious while heading to the canvas. Holmes later said it was the hardest punch he ever got hit with. He said the only thing that kept Earnie from taking his title that night was the canvas floor!! He was totally out until he hit the canvas. When his head hit the canvas, he said it woke him up!!!
@@milojanis4901 ....I agree that a consistent jab and better, overall technique would have helped. But Shavers also had a persistent stamina problem. If he didn't KO his opponent early, he would be totally spent about halfway through the fight. That was his biggest issue.
I’ve never heard of cobb before but I’ve gotta say I’m impressed with his boxing prowess and granite chin to b fair he looked a lot better than the current lot and I reckon if hede dedicated himself to the sport back then he could have gone quite far
@@sky-oq5mr yeh that’s an impressive record but what I was trying to say ( obviously poorly) was that maybe he could have actually contended for a title if he dedicated himself solely to boxing but heh we’ll never know will we and I’m he loved the life he led mixing it up with fighting and acting it obviously suited him that way
No "Hollywood actor" could win (even fading) Shavers or absorb shot after another for 15 rounds with Holmes. Cobb's stamina was incredible and it's even more incredible how fluently he speaks nowadays.
great video..thanks for posting....I grew up watching these guys and they were made of tough stuff indeed !!! RIP Ernie.......you were somethin' else and big respect to Tex Cobb...what a warrior !! ...they don't make 'em like they used to
Mad respect for both of these heavyweight warriors, Shavers could hit like a fully loaded freight train and so could Cobb, they both dished out and took a huge amount of punishment. Many thanks to both of these warriors for their spectacular show
Had the honor & pleasure of talking to Randy several times thruout my boxing career & he was an absolute gentleman and highly intelligent as well! His heart was as big as he was and he did alot for kids boxing programs in the Philadelphia area as well. Earnie Shavers was feared & respected by all in Boxing & Randy as well. Rest in Power Earnie!
Raising Arizona came out in 1987. Cobb Vs. Shavers was in 1980. Cobb's popularity grew after losing to Larry Holmes in 1982 and his related television appearances.
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT -- SHAVERS WAS PRETTY TOUGH TOO - HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO SLOW WAY WAY DOWN ABOUT THE 7TH ROUND -- HUNG IN THERE BUT DOWNSHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR
My boxing trainer growing up trained Shavers himself. Thankful for the experience and im glad Shavers is still getting his flowers. Nothing like the golden age of boxing
Met Ernie at a mall in AZ signing memorabilia. He was a soft spoken, polite man. Hard to reconcile the savage beast in the ring with the gentle man in front of me.
As others have said, Tex Cobb was a very, very tough and experienced pro boxer. Muhammad Ali, Henry Cooper, Max Baer and many, many more fighters could also be described as 'actors'.
So much respect to these fighters and the whole era of boxers in the 70s. Truly the golden era of boxing. I wish i was old enough to watch this era when it happened. There will never be an eea of great tough boxers like this again in the heavyweight division
@@liamgraer9594 Fair. I missed the heavyweight part. You're right. Not many wars in that division. I'm racking my brain trying to think of anything besides Bowe/Holyfield, Tyson/Ruddock, or the like. ANd you're right. They pale in comparison to the older era.
@@drak3y yeah and while there's always been a few big heavyweights for each era not always enough depth comparatively and like you said the other real wars after then tended to be between the lighter guys Guys who just didn't know what staying down meant and put on some truly amazing wars .....
@harriauvinen7045 and what I know of him is his past. All very inspiring. What I know of him currently is nothing. I apologize for my lazy use of language.
Cobb had one of the best chins in history. Dude was tough as nails. I knew him first as an actor growing up in the 80s and have loved finding out more about him.
They were two great & very very tough fighters. I resent the spin that you have tried to put on this. It's a great fight. That any true boxing fan can watch with the sound off. Then watch two of the greatest fighters that never took the crown show how tough a human being can be... No matter what colour creed or race!
As a young kickboxer, I ran in the same circles as Tex, if my memory serves me correctly, Tex was a fighter before he became an actor! Wow, I can't believe that was over forty years ago!
Great watch thanks, never knew about this, i've followed boxing for years & Raising Arizona is one of my fav films of all time.. Never knew he fought & beat Earnie ! & mixed it with the best .. one tough mofo..
Despite Cobb’s resumè not being the best, he had his fair share of great moments and an undeniably granite chin, huge fan of his personality too, Larry Holmes definitely did quite the devastation job on him though 😂
I can't hold that against Cobb. He got the most out of his career. If he fought in another era, he might have accomplished even more as a boxer, maybe even winning one of the major straps. Larry Holmes was likely the most skilled fighter to ever live. Cobb was a pretty skilled fighter in his own right, but going up against the greatest boxer/puncher/mover to ever live is a tall task for any man. Even other legends in their prime would have had a very tough time against any version of Holmes let alone during his absolute prime in the late 70's, and early 80's. Holmes was like Ali with a devestating telephone poll right hand. He had lightning fast hands, crisp punches, great footwork, great movement, and was an excellent defensive fighter with so many different techniques to stay safe. Cobb simply couldn't catch the guy with anything significant before he circled away. The moral of the story is it's a good thing that most fighters aren't Larry Holmes. I wouldn't want to see that guy on my schedule if I was a fighter. I think I would faint. Cobb's style worked pretty well against more physical pressure fighters that didn't use a ton of lateral movement. Still, Cobb could take the punishment from anyone and remain standing, even when he was outclassed by his opponent.
@@madamtuzam foreman is up there, but most of the greats of that era agreed Shavers hit harder. Ali said so, among others, even Foreman himself. It is true that Shavers is outside his prime here.
