Mike Tyson is a widely popular name among sports enthusiasts all around the world. Not only he is known for his exceptional talent and skills in the boxing ring but the sports star has also impressed his fans with his surprising on-screen appearances. He has joined the cast of the popular franchise like The Hangover, and the third installment in the action drama series Ip Man alongside Donnie Yen.
And despite being an acclaimed Hong Kong martial artist, the John Wick star has shared that he was horrified while filming one of the scenes with the boxing champion.
Donnie Yen Was Nervous Filming With Mike Tyson
Donnie Yen has starred in several Hollywood hits, including the Keanu Reeves‘ John Wick franchise as Caine. One of his popular features also includes the action film series following the martial artist Ip Man. And he had the opportunity to work with the sports star Mike Tyson in the third installment of the series.
Tyson joined the cast of the film as the corrupt property developer Frank. And one of the fighting sequences of the movie had the boxing champion and Yen against each other. The 60-year-old actor, who is also a fan of Tyson, has shared that he was nervous and excited to work with him.
The sequence required the sports star to do his famous left hook as he knocked the punching bag right next to his face. During his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the actor shared that he was terrified as he “felt his punch coming at me, 90 miles per hour.”
While he was expected to remain calm and poised, he was surprised by how fast Tyson’s punch moved, as he only felt a gust of wind moving past him. “It was like a tornado,” the Raging Fire actor shared before adding that Tyson’s punch knocked the punching bag down.
Donnie Yen Was Concerned Mike Tyson Might Not Hold Back
Donnie Yen has shared that he has been a big fan of Mike Tyson growing up, and had spent nights watching his matches. However, when he got the offer to work with him, he was not sure what to expect from him as an actor. “Mike, I love him, but he doesn’t really have a lot of film experience. I didn’t want him to come to the set and start swinging,” he shared during an interview.
He also shared that he was worried the boxing champion “might not hold back in using force as he is not an actor.” He said that it was like a life-and-death situation for him, and he took the scene very seriously. “I saw it as a life-and-death boxing match. Just a little carelessness and it could be fatal,” he said.
Read More: Mike Tyson Got His Girlfriend Pregnant When He Was in Prison: “Everybody gave me what I wanted”
Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live!
