The third installment of the Ip Man series, released in 2015, brought together two iconic figures: Donnie Yen, the martial arts superstar, and Mike Tyson, the boxing legend. Their on-screen clash was a highly anticipated event, and the film delivered a memorable fight scene that showcased the skills of both performers.
The film follows Master Ip as he confronts a group of criminals, led by a twisted property manager played by Tyson, who are attempting to take over a school. The confrontation between Ip Man and Tyson's character culminates in a thrilling battle that highlights the contrast between Wing Chun and boxing.
Donnie Yen, known for bringing mixed martial arts into mainstream Asian filmmaking, spoke on one particular moment that involved filming a fight with Mike Tyson. Yen admits that it was an intimidating experience and, despite being a fan of Tyson's boxing career, he recognized that he is a boxer, rather than an actor. "I had to treat it as a real fight in a boxing ring with him and it was a matter of life and death. I couldn’t afford to be distracted in any way, otherwise it wouldn’t have been a K.O., it would have cost me my life. That was so dangerous! I literally felt the air move with his punch, which was like a truck coming towards me head-on. I felt that wind - woah, that’s still so clear in my mind, so dangerous! It's pretty cool to know the process that Yen had to engage in when shooting the fight scene with Tyson. Yen was aware that all of Tyson's moves and beats were that of a boxer and not an actor. It's not going to be second nature for Tyson to hit a mark or pull punches. Yen had to be on top of his game just in case Tyson did what came naturally to him. Not because Tyson was threatening in any way but because Tyson is used to doing what is second nature to him.
Hong Kong martial arts actor Donnie Yen Ji-dan still remembers the whoosh of air when a punch from former professional boxer Mike Tyson whistled past his head and landed on a sandbag. Tyson played Yen’s opponent in Ip Man 3 (2015) and Yen says he was afraid of accidentally getting killed on set by the former boxing heavyweight champion.
“I am a fan who watched his boxing matches until 4 or 5am on TV in Hong Kong when I was a child,” says Yen, adding he was thrilled to see him in person when making the movie. “I was worried that he might not hold back in using force as he is not an actor. I had to be very cautious. I saw it as a life-and-death boxing match. Just a little carelessness and it could be fatal.”
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Now on a publicity round for his latest film, Raging Fire, the last film made by the late director Benny Chan Muk-sing, Yen remembers the Tyson fist flying towards him.
“In that scene, I had to duck my head when it came so near to my head that it touched my hair. I had to duck my head at the last moment so his fist missed me and landed on the sandbag next to me which flew out on impact. He had to use a lot of force to throw the punch. When his punch came, I felt like a big truck was rushing towards me.
Director Wilson Yip doesn’t resort to shaky cams or lightning fast edits. He trusts the chaos enveloping his stars. Tyson’s battle sequence is a hoot, if only for the physical contrast between the combatants.
During a round table interview, both Yen and Tyson shared their experiences working together on the film.
DONNIE YEN & MIKE TYSON FIGHT - BEHIND THE SCENES IP MAN 3
Insights from the Actors
Donnie Yen: I learned a lot. I was trying to get some secret tips from him.
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Mike Tyson: I was happy being with him. When I always think of the Chinese culture, my ideas always come from the Shaw Brothers movies. I’m African American, they’re always oppressed, they’re the weak man of the East, this and that.
Donnie Yen: I’ve always been a big fan of Mike. I watch every single one of his fights. He’s a legend. For me, it was a total honor and thrilled to be able to not only work with Mike but to have fought him in the third installment. Hopefully Mike, you’re going to return for the fourth installment?
Mike Tyson: They said, “Hey, do you want to be in Ip Man?” and I was like, yeah!
Donnie Yen: Just, overwhelmed! Because I recall watching every single one of Mike’s fights. At the time, they were on HBO, I would watch them in Hong Kong. The time difference, I had to stay up all night to watch him, but than he’d knock the other guy in two seconds! That’s it!
Mike Tyson: I thought it was like 18 years ago, but he said the first Ip Man was only eight years ago.
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Mike Tyson: It wasn’t hard at all. If you do it phonetically for me and spell it, I’ll pass the test.
Donnie Yen: He have very good control.
Mike Tyson: I’m not gonna make any mistake. If anything I’m gonna get hurt.
Mike Tyson: Long scenes. Real long fight scenes. And not many cuts so the scenes were prolong. It was the best I’ve ever did in a movie.
Mike Tyson: I was having a ball. Me and the (action) director really couldn’t communicate much.
Donnie Yen: Vice versa. Also, trying to explain some of Mike’s comments and some of his input, I convert that to master Yuen Woo Ping. I was acting as a bit of a personal translator/middle person.
Mike Tyson: He’s a good guy.
The Making of the Fight Scene
The fight choreography was designed to showcase the contrasting styles of Yen and Tyson. Yen's Wing Chun is characterized by its close-range combat and emphasis on speed and precision, while Tyson's boxing is known for its raw power and aggressive attacks. The fight scene incorporated elements of both styles, creating a dynamic and exciting spectacle.
The third film in the quasi-biographical franchise doesn’t disappoint on the action front. Once more Donnie Yen plays Ip Man, the Wing Chun grandmaster known for his emotionless fighting style. It’ll take all of Ip Man’s skills to beat back the horde of goons attacking the school.
And then there’s an epic battle in a warehouse, where Tyson’s thugs come at Ip Man in classic, one-on-one style.
The third film is more about depth. For me, I feel as an actor, we bring the maturity as we get older, to the character.
Here is a table summarizing the key differences between the fighting styles of Donnie Yen and Mike Tyson as portrayed in the film:
| Fighter | Fighting Style | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Donnie Yen (Ip Man) | Wing Chun | Close-range combat, speed, precision, fluidity |
| Mike Tyson (Frank) | Boxing | Raw power, aggressive attacks, knockout potential |
The film is set in the late 1959s, which lends the film an old-fashioned sheen. It’s the character’s selfless spirit that permeates the production. We need more Ip Mans in the world.
There are many movies about Yip Man out there, but the only ones I’ve really loved have starred Donnie Yen.
Did the world need a third Ip Man movie? Probably not, though I do imagine people wanting more Bruce Lee.
Do we need a movie where Donnie Yen fights Mike Tyson? Yes we did. Seriously though. Donnie Yen is back. Director Yip Wilson is back. Mike Tyson seems game.