Did Holmes try to KO Cobb?

[Willie Pep 229]

Did Larry Holmes try to KO Randall Tex Cobb?

The fight goes 15 rounds and the last four rounds has always left me confused as to Holmes' behavior.

1. Was Holmes the constant professional who fought each round independently; one round at a time, never altering his tactic because his mastery of boxing had made him OCD?

2. Was Holmes scared to move against Cobb, even during the final four rounds because he knew he had the fight won and refused to put his title at risk to one big blow?

3. Was Tex Cobb actually still dangerous in the final four rounds that Holmes was being --> 'just plain smart'?

I realize it is difficult if not impossible to climb inside Holmes head but we do have the entire fight to watch and Holmes' behavior towards Cobb, in the last four tounds IMO is odd, in that he didn't ratchet it up and take him out, even if only by TKO.

BONUS QUESTION

4. If the fight had been scheduled for 45 rounds would it have been Wiilard-Johnson redux, with Holmes exhausted, punched out, and KOed in the 26th round?

[QueensburyRules]

Did Larry Holmes try to KO Randall Tex Cobb?

The fight goes 15 rounds and the last four rounds has always left me confused as to Holmes' behavior.

1. Was Holmes the constant professional who fought each round independently; one round at a time, never altering his tactic because his mastery of boxing had made him OCD?

2. Was Holmes scared to move against Cobb, even during the final four rounds because he knew he had the fight won and refused to put his title at risk to one big blow?

3. Was Tex Cobb actually still dangerous in the final four rounds that Holmes was being --> 'just plain smart'?

I realize it is difficult if not impossible to climb inside Holmes head but we do have the entire fight to watch and Holmes' behavior towards Cobb, in the last four tounds IMO is odd, in that he didn't ratchet it up and take him out, even if only by TKO.

BONUS QUESTION

4. If the fight had been scheduled for 45 rounds would it have been Wiilard-Johnson redux, with Holmes exhausted, punched out, and KOed in the 26th round?

- - 4. Yes

Lar threw the kitchen sink at Tex to no avail, or perhaps to an anvil.

A bit like Ali/Chuvalo 1 where Ali went to the hospital and George went out dancing wif his wife.

[JAB5239]

Did Larry Holmes try to KO Randall Tex Cobb?

The fight goes 15 rounds and the last four rounds has always left me confused as to Holmes' behavior.

1. Was Holmes the constant professional who fought each round independently; one round at a time, never altering his tactic because his mastery of boxing had made him OCD?

2. Was Holmes scared to move against Cobb, even during the final four rounds because he knew he had the fight won and refused to put his title at risk to one big blow?

3. Was Tex Cobb actually still dangerous in the final four rounds that Holmes was being --> 'just plain smart'?

I realize it is difficult if not impossible to climb inside Holmes head but we do have the entire fight to watch and Holmes' behavior towards Cobb, in the last four tounds IMO is odd, in that he didn't ratchet it up and take him out, even if only by TKO.

BONUS QUESTION

4. If the fight had been scheduled for 45 rounds would it have been Wiilard-Johnson redux, with Holmes exhausted, punched out, and KOed in the 26th round?

Holmes was most likely trying to stop him, but he was not being reckless. Probably lying for the reasons you gave already.

No to 4. The ref wouldn't had let the drubbing go on for 26 rounds.

[The Old LefHook]

Great warriors often spare the lives of heroic adversaries.

[Willie Pep 229]

Great warriors often spare the lives of heroic adversaries.

God I would like to think that. But wouldn't he have done Cobb a favor by opening up on him and getting the referee to stop it several rounds earlier?

I wonder if Cobb is actually as undamaged as it is purported.

[QueensburyRules]

God I would like to think that. But wouldn't he have done Cobb a favor by opening up on him and getting the referee to stop it several rounds earlier?

I wonder if Cobb is actually as undamaged as it is purported.

- - Graduated from college not so long ago.

[Willie Pep 229]

- - Graduated from college not so long ago.

Nice to hear that.

[GhostofDempsey]

I would say #3, Cobb was big, tough and could take a lot of punishment, and I think Holmes didn't want to move in for the kill and risk getting caught with something big. Holmes had to know he was up on all the cards.

[Ben Bolt]

If the fight had been scheduled for 45 rounds ...

Entertainer Randy Cobb at Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show:
“I didn’t lose the fight, Johnny. I just lost the first 15 rounds.”

You could say that it was Howard Cosell who made this fight a classic
when he announced that he had had enough of boxing.

[The Old LefHook]

Holmes was the kind that can hand out permanent damage since he did not punch that hard and had to beat on people a long time.