Best known for his boxing career, and intimidating looks both inside and outside the ring, Mike Tyson, or Iron Mike is a legendary yet controversial figure of the sport. He has made a name for himself as an exceptionally talented and skilled figure in the boxing world. In his 20-year-long boxing career, he had one of the most ridiculous records, with a 50-6 record, 44 of them were knockouts. Hence, his contribution to the sport has made him one of the most famous personalities around the world.
Heartbreakingly, the world would never see another boxer like Tyson, and because of his influence on the sport, countless people around the world and even celebrities are fans of the renowned figure. One of them is Donnie Yen, who is a die-hard fan of Mike Tyson and he was so excited to work with him that he didn’t mind getting knocked out cold by him.
Donnie Yen Was Excited To Work Alongside Mike Tyson
Donnie Yen has won the hearts of millions of people around the globe for his astonishing martial arts skills and gripping performances. He is a superstar in China, and his influence could be even felt in numerous movies such as Blade II, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He even, recently squared off against Keanu Reeves’ John Wick in the fourth installment of the series as Caine.
However, he is renowned for the role of Yip Man in the action film series, Ip Man. The first film earned $22.1 million at the box office, and it gained widespread popularity, hence it got sequels that were equally popular. During an exclusive interview with GQ, Donnie Yen recalled how he was excited he was to work alongside Mike Tyson in Ip Man 3. He was so excited to work alongside his idol, that he mentioned how he was “fine” with the boxer knocking him out.
“When I found out I was going to make a movie with Mike Tyson, I was ecstatic. I was always been a fan of Mike Tyson. Aside from Bruce Lee, Mike Tyson was my idol. You know, I was looking at Mike Tyson, wow, you know, I mean, imitate him. In fact, how he moves. I said, ‘Whoa, can I use some of that Mike Tyson moves in my movies?'”
“So when I realized, ‘Oh, he’s in Ip Man 3, so I was both excited, at the same time, little bit nervous. I was like you know, ‘What if he accidentally knocked me out?’ Knocking me out was fine, but I gotta finish the movie, right?”
Donnie Yen had a blast working with his idol, the movie was a great success as the film had earned $157 million at the worldwide box office. But more importantly, the Kung Fu Killer actor couldn’t stop from becoming a fanboy of Iron Mike, and shares how Tyson’s presence in the film helped him take a different approach in the film.
Donnie Yen Was Afraid of Tyson’s Infamous Left Hook
In the same interview with GQ, Yen recalled that it was the kind of nervous excitement because he was a fan of the figure, and how he used to copy him. Hence, when they were working together he was acting like a fanboy. He added how he was afraid of his left hook so much that it made him take a different approach in his movie.
“It was kind of that kind of excitement and that nervousness working with him because I was such a fan and he’s in front of me and he’s coming at me with his left hook. And I was like, ‘Oh, Mike Tyson is coming at me with the left hook.’ And I told Yuen Woo-Ping, I said, ‘I’m not gonna be exactly like how we shoot the traditional way of Kung Fu movies where we always dodge at a very split second. I’m gonna move when I feel danger, I’m not gonna wait until his fist is here.’ You know, I’m gonna move.”
Yen recalled shooting the scene, when he was squaring off against Tyson in the film, and how his forearm brushed his hair. As a fan, he had a memorable time working with his idol, and how talking to him was better than working in the film.
“There was a shot where he came in with a left hook and it was supposed to hit a big heavy bag. So, ‘All right, ready? Close up,’ blah blah blah. You know, the camera rolling and I felt that punch was coming and I felt his forearm brush my hair. I said, ‘Woo,’ but it was great fun working with Mike and it was totally chill and respectful. I had more of a great time working in that film, talking to him than that scene itself. We’d be doing shots and I would ask him questions. I’m a fan, you know, you gotta remember. So, it was a very memorable experience working with Mike Tyson.”
It is safe to say that Donnie Yen had a memorable experience working with his idol in the film, as he was not only having a great time on the set of the film but the boxer’s charismatic presence made the scene more realistic.
Ip Man 3 can be streamed on FuboTV.
Source: GQ
