18.04.05 – Heavyweight Joshua “Josh” Cobb, son of former heavyweight world championship challenger Randall “Tex” Cobb, makes his Las Vegas debut Friday, April 29, on the nationally televised card promoted by Duva Boxing at the Plaza Hotel & Casino. Cobb is in a four-round bout on the undercard of the event that features Samuel Peter against Gilbert Martinez in the 10-round main event..
The 19-year-old Cobb, who was born on the 4th of July and raised in El Paso, Texas, now lives in Las Vegas as he switches from football to boxing.
The 6-foot-5-inch, 260-pound Cobb played one year of football at linebacker for Temple University in Philadelphia. But as Cobb admits, “I’ve got a little bit of cowboy in me and Philadelphia just wasn’t a good fit for me at that time.”
So he returned to El Paso with plans of playing junior college football in Utah. He made it out of Texas, but never got past Las Vegas.
His father’s former advisor, Ron Weathers, suggested Josh give boxing a try. He did, liked it and is quite proficient, considering he’s been training for only eight months and had no amateur fights..
Cobb’s first fight was a success, a first-round knockout of another youngster, Ken Guthrie, April 5 in Memphis.
“It’s such a good feeling to not only have that first fight but get a win, too,” said Cobb.
“What was great was hitting him (Guthrie) and watching him go down. Then I hit him again and he went down again.
“I don’t have any illusions, though,” said Cobb. “I know I have a long, long way to go. But the journey starts with a single step, doesn’t it?”
More effusive in praise of Cobb is Weathers, an outspoken fellow Texan who also advised George Foreman during the former champion’s comeback. “Josh looked great in Memphis,” said Weathers. “His hand speed is tremendous, he has a stiff jab, his mechanics are good and he’s beyond strong. Just don’t ask him to dance around the ring. He’s working on his movement.”
Josh’s father, “Tex,” went 15 rounds with Larry Holmes for the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship during 1982 and beat former world heavyweight champ Leon Spinks and world championship challenger Earnie Shavers. “Tex” also fought former world champions including Ken Norton, Michael Dokes and James “Buster” Douglas during his 16-year career which ending in 1993.
“ ‘Tex’ Cobb was one of the toughest, gamest heavyweights I’ve ever seen,” said Lou Duva, legendary manager and trainer. “He didn’t have an enormous amount of natural boxing ability, but he had a ton of heart. If Josh has one-half of his father’s heart to go along with his physical tools, then this young man has the chance to develop into someone special.”
Peter, the North American Boxing Federation and United States Boxing Association heavyweight champion, has a record of 22-0 with 19 knockouts, and is ranked No. 5 by the WBC, No. 6 by the World Boxing Organization and No. 9 by the International Boxing Federation.
Martinez, a southpaw, has a record of 18-8-3 with seven knockouts and has a win over former WBA heavyweight champion Tony Tubbs.
Diaz has a record of 19-1 with 11 knockouts while Feliciano has a mark of 12-3-2 with seven knockouts.
Four other bouts, featuring two Las Vegans plus a pair of outstanding prospects from the Duva Boxing stable, complete the card.
Tickets, priced at $45 and $75, are on sale at the third-floor box office at the Plaza Hotel & Casino from 1 to 8 p.m. (Pacific) Tuesday through Saturday and from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Tickets also may be purchased by calling 800-773-0992 or 702-386-2110 during those days and hours or online at www.plazahotelcasino.com
The card April 29 starts at 6 p.m. with doors to the Triple Crown Ballroom, located on the third floor of the Plaza Hotel & Casino, opening at 5:30.
The card is televised by ESPN2.