Date: 26th November 1982
Venue: Astrodome, Houston, TexasTitle: WBC World Heavyweight Title
Promoter: Don King Productions
Referee: Steve Crosson
Tv: ABC Sports
Larry Holmes
(
40
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 217½ lbs
Randall Cobb
(
20
-
2
-
0
)
Weight: 234¼ lbs
Larry Holmes defended his WBC World Heavyweight Title for the 13th time on November 26, 1982, at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, against Randall "Tex" Cobb. Holmes entered the bout as an 8-1 favourite, carrying a 40-0 record and a reputation as one of the most skilled heavyweight champions of the modern era. Cobb, a rugged and durable brawler from Orange, Texas, was known more for his toughness than technical proficiency, and the fight played out exactly as many predicted—a one-sided affair showcasing Holmes' dominance.
From the opening bell, Holmes established his superiority with precise jabs and combinations, keeping Cobb at bay while inflicting steady punishment. The disparity in skill was evident as Holmes expertly used his 218-pound frame to control the distance, circling away from Cobb's wild, looping punches. Weighing in at 234 pounds, Cobb pressed forward relentlessly, absorbing Holmes' sharp punches with a resilience that became the defining feature of the fight.
Despite the overwhelming disparity in output and accuracy, Cobb's iron chin allowed him to weather the storm for the full 15 rounds. Holmes repeatedly landed clean combinations that would have stopped most opponents, but Cobb kept coming forward, largely ineffective in landing anything meaningful but unwilling to concede.
The judges' scorecards, reading 150-135 twice and 149-136, reflected Holmes's complete dominance, yet even they didn't fully capture the one-sided nature of the bout. Holmes earned $1.6 million for his victory, while Cobb received $500,000—a significant payday but one that came at the cost of absorbing tremendous punishment.
Perhaps the most lasting legacy of the fight came not from the ring but from the broadcast booth. Howard Cosell, who called the fight for ABC, was so appalled by what he described as a "brutal mismatch" that he declared it his final boxing telecast. Before the 13th round, Cosell openly criticized the bout, lamenting the lack of competitiveness and the level of punishment Cobb endured. True to his word, he never covered boxing again.
Ever the humourist, Cobb later remarked that forcing Cosell out of boxing was his greatest achievement, "If I eliminate heart disease, if I walk on water, if I come up with a cure for crippled kids, I can't imagine a greater gift to mankind. That is my greatest accomplishment."
When asked by a reporter about the possibility of a rematch with Holmes, Cobb replied "I don't think his hands could take the abuse."