Mike Tyson and martial arts star Donnie Yen starred together in IP Man 3, the 3rd installment in a biographical film series based on the life of martial arts exponent Wing Chu who became the teacher of Bruce Lee. The film, which was released in 2015, follows Yen’s character as he fights to defend a local school from a ruthless gang and a property developer played by heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
Sharing screen space with Mike Tyson, one of the greatest boxers in the world, was a daunting task for Yen, who once confessed that he took many precautionary measures on the set of IP Man 3 on the insistence of his wife to avoid getting hurt by the heavyweight champion. But as luck would have it, it was Tyson who was at the receiving end of his own punch.
Mike Tyson Fractured His Finger In IP Man 3
Hong Kong star Donnie Yen and heavyweight champion Mike Tyson faced off in IP Man 3. Yen who is a trained martial artist, was apprehensive about a particular fight scene involving Tyson in which the boxer had to land a punch on Yen’s face. A punching bag that was placed close to the actor would serve as the buffer. Yen though was fearful that Tyson’s powerful punch would actually hit his visage instead of the punching bag as the sportsman did not have a lot of film experience when compared to his co-star. Recalling the scene and the unforgettable experience of Tyson’s 1500-foot-pound punch near his face, Yen explained,
“We were doing it, going at it, very fast and I said, Wait a minute, what am I gonna do? I promised my wife that I would get home in one piece.I felt his punch coming at me, 90 miles per hour, I kid you not. And I couldn’t really move sooner because I had to be poised. I felt his forearm just… I felt the wind. It was like a tornado. And he knocked that punching bag.”
Ironically, Tyson’s punch which Yen feared would hurt the former seriously, actually ended up injuring the boxer himself. The force with which Tyson hit the punching bag caused a fracture in his index finger during this fight sequence.
Mike Tyson Has Radical Ideas For His Television Series
In a recent episode of his podcast Hotboxin’, Mike Tyson revealed that he wanted his biographical television series to be in animated form and expressed the desire to see himself as a cartoon. While Tyson’s decision may sound radical or unexpected, it isn’t entirely surprising given his history of taking risks and trying new things.
Moreover, this isn’t the first time that the heavyweight champion has been involved in the world of animation. In recent years, Tyson has lent his voice to various animated TV shows and movies while also making a brief appearance as himself in the show Family Guy. He also starred in the Mike Tyson Mysteries series as a cartoon version of himself, solving mysteries with his sidekicks. With his penchant for the animated form of storytelling, it will be interesting to see which direction he finally decides to take for his television series.
Also Read: Mike Tyson Net Worth – How Much Did He Make from The Hangover and Other Hollywood Movies
Source: Screen Rant
