MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Mike Tyson Vs Bruce Lee: who would win?

Mike Tyson Vs Bruce Lee: who would win?


this is to settle an argument by an ignorant person on here claiming Bruce lee would obviously win.

heres the details

Tyson- an experience fighter with almost 60 professional fights. winning most. against opponents weighing 215-270lbs. He was able to eat hard hits and had great speed. he also weighed 220lbs at fighting weight. Tyson had a punching force of 1300lbs

Bruce Lee- firstly and mostly trained in Tai CHi and WIng chun (aka bullshit martial arts). did expand this and train in other real martial arts. only 3 amateur fights on record with only one recording. he weighed 140lbs. according to one guy lee has a kicking force of 500lbs

Heres some of the quality arguments i was given, by somone who clearly thinks this would play out like a movie where our protaganist wins

I don't believe Tyson would fair well if he was kicked in the balls or throat at full speed and force. Or just snap his knee.

I haven't mentioned Lee's nunchucks.

There are moves to avoid being hit which aren't available in boxing. Not movies - I took martial arts for a few years. Real life is nothing like the movies. It's a very quick resolution and less "showy".

It's like The Force. Size doesn't matter. I lifted and threw a man to the ground when I was 7 or 8. Martial arts teaches techniques like that.


You heard it here. Lee wins because ball kicks, nun chucks (one of the worse "weapons" ever made) and hes super super fast!

https://youtu.be/AqHqMdRcROQ?si=fZX1qVBoRgbRXzV0

you will notice Lee against a very mediocre opponent. WHo is certainly less strong, less fast, less durable, less experience than Tyson. and he still hits the "super fast" Lee!

can someone bring sanity to this person



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Tyson would clobber everyone, including Jesus.

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but but "nunchucks" and martial arts is "like the force, size doesnt matter"

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There's no denying Bruce Lee's technical ability and innovative approach. But he's attracted a 'cult following' - and I mean cult. There's this almost brainwashed mentality that to say anything other than 'Lee was the greatest ever and could kick anybody's ass' is heresy. It's nearly as bad as Scientology! Lee was a clever, analytical man, who was way ahead of his time in his approach to the functionality of martial arts. He came up with training concepts that were revolutionary, but are now widely accepted. But to say he was the greatest fighter to ever walk the Earth is ridiculous; he may have been - or there may be some little Asian guy who spends his life in the mountains, meditating under waterfalls, who could have taken Lee ten times out of ten. We'll never know.

As for Lee v Tyson, what's the scenario, boxing? Tyson destroys him. Kung Fu/Jeet Kune Do? Lee wins. NHB street fight? Against many boxers I'd give Lee an edge (not least because he'd attack areas that boxers aren't used to defending/protecting) - but Tyson was a seasoned street fighter in his youth, he knew the 'tricks'. I'd have to call that one even.

But there's a caveat to all the above: whatever the scenario, one solid hit from Tyson (head, or body), and it's over for Lee - and Lee would know that. Zero margin for error.

When it comes to Bruce Lee some people just get blinded to reason. Of course, by posting this I'm a heretic.

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i agree there is a cult following and alot said about his capabilities. which makes sense but then is also weird since he only ever officially fought 3 times. But his movie career is clearly what solidified this mystique.

But there's a caveat to all the above: whatever the scenario, one solid hit from Tyson (head, or body blow), and it's over for Lee - and Lee would have known that. Zero margin for error.


He may have, but also he cant break the laws of physics. which is "how do i hit Tyson enough to land some sort of knockout blow quickly despite having a far smaller reach". by kicks? as i said one account put Lees kicking power at 500lbs. which is low considering tysons opponents had 1000-1400lb punching force. So how does he land this magical blow? Tyoson certainly wouldnt have let his guard down on his head. and a 500lb kick would do nothing.Tyson has time and time again got hit multiple times by strikes 2-2.5X stronger than Lees kick for multiple rounds.

When it comes to Bruce Lee some people just get blinded to reason. Of course, by posting this I'm a heretic..


despite this cult, 90% of people online agree Tyson would win. Ive looked for more professional/expert opinions and i cant find any experts weighing in, besides Tyson himself who says , “If Bruce Lee really could beat me in a fight, I would really, um, I really think this is an interesting world because that should not happen.”

I see it like this. if Bruce lee was a graceful, fast, smaller Whippet dog breed. Tysons was a pitbull. ferocious, could take hits but also give back massive damage.

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Good post...it is especially fanciful when we see Lee vs. multiple attackers, of course they all attack one-at-a-time.

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👍 They do! And there'll be people using that as 'evidence' he could take a whole roomful of guys IRL!

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I get a kick out of the following videos, of course I am in no way including Bruce Lee in this category, but it gives people evidence that many so-called "masters" have no fighting experience at all and get crushed easily by professional MMA fighters.

"Bullshido" :)
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Fake+martial+arts+masters+exposed

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Gotta love Bullshido!!

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"As for Lee v Tyson, what's the scenario, boxing?"

Excellent question! No, not boxing. Not in the ring. Street fight. No rules. Anything goes. Even nutchuks.

"one solid hit from Tyson (head, or body), and it's over for Lee - and Lee would know that."

Exactly! That was the point I was trying to make. A martial artist who is smaller would stay beyond Tyson's arm reach to avoid being punched by him. Lee's best offense would be kicks to Tyson's lower body. Targets in real street self-defense are always weak areas. Yes, Tyson was built like a truck, but a Lee kick in the balls, knee cap to break or even throat would take him down.

The OP is misrepresenting the original post which wasn't solely about Lee if you're curious:

The original thread is here:
https://moviechat.org/nm0005512/Mike-Tyson/64e974d7cc7d286e4a330854/You-and-him-in-a-ring-Are-you-landing-one-punch?reply=64f14ef13eefbf34ab8e1bee

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one person barely agrees with you.

nothing was misrepresented. your arguments were just silly and played out like a movie. you even brought up nun chucks like an 11 year old child who just watched a bruce lee movie lol.

https://moviechat.org/nm0005512/Mike-Tyson/64e974d7cc7d286e4a330854/You-and-him-in-a-ring-Are-you-landing-one-punch?reply=64f14ef13eefbf34ab8e1bee

to "prove" martial arts is best, you gave a video of a female black belt, who stopped from getting mugged. no info on the guy, his age, his weight, his fight experience. even according to the video he was trying to steal from her, not fight her. yet to you this "proved" martial arts is best. yes a guy is looking to steal quickly isnt about to get into a full fledged fight so he ran. this proves bruce lee would win how?

thats how dumb you are.

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As I said, although I'd normally tip Lee over a boxer in a street fight (I've known guys with no formal training whatsoever who I'd tip over a boxer in a street fight), Tyson had been a street fighter himself. He knew what others would be going for. So a street fight between Lee and Tyson is for me a pretty even call. If Lee can stay out of punching range and fight to his strengths, he's got a chance. If he gets too close, it's over for him.

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https://youtu.be/AqHqMdRcROQ?si=fZX1qVBoRgbRXzV0

heres lee fighting someone clearly far less experienced than himself or Tyson. how does Lee magically stay out of range and never get hit by the far faster, experienced and capable Tyson when he cant even do it here against a far worse opponent? what kicks is Lee going to use to beat/disable tyson when his kicks were 1/2/ to 1/3 the strength of the punches tyson would take dozens and dozens and dozens of times in a single match to the body and the face? (500lb kick from Lee vs 1000-1400lb punch from his various opponents)

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I did say 'if'. How he does it is up to Lee! Never said he was guaranteed to succeed. As for the power difference, it's not just the power, it's the target. There are areas on the human body that don't need to be hit with anything like 1000 lbs of force in order to disable. But I'm not getting in the middle of yours and Keelai's argument. You asked for our opinions, so I gave mine (and my reasoning). I'm sure you and Keelai will thrash it out between you.

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You get what I was attempting to explain.

Anyway, Lee is dead, therefore we'll never really know.

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you didnt demonstrate shit, you brought up nun chucks lol

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Agreed.

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Not to take away anything from Lee's talent, but Tyson would destroy him.

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Tyson would eat his children.

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Lee would get annihilated by 90%+ of today's professional MMA fighters from any weight division, never mind Mike Tyson.

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I'd also tip a top pro MMA fighter to beat Tyson.

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I think the rules of the fight are important. Lee obviously has quickness, but Tyson has massive weight and punching power advantage, he may only need to brush against Lee with a punch to knock him over. That said, who knows what Tyson would be like in an MMA fight. Obviously he can box, but what if Lee is able to take him off his feet and get him in a submission hold? Just because of power, weight, well and because Tyson is a professional fighter, I think Tyson would win 9.5/10 times.

There's lots of videos out there of boxers clobbering kung fu masters in matchups, but the rules aren't always clear. Here's a recent one for reference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UZ_ghvVMew

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Another boxer vs Kung Fu master, this time male vs female and it seems both are boxing. The female boxer is very rhythmic in her motions, the "Kung Fu Master" and I am dubious if he is one is very clumsy, I get that he wouldn't be good at boxing but his movements do not indicate someone who is used to moving at all. He looks like a Panda bear stumbling about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgqM01yEy9s

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He's taking the Rocky approach of leading with his face lol.

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Definitely and she is either holding back or her punches don't mean a lot to him. Another Rocky move, wear your opponent out by letting them beat the shit out of you!

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Is Lee fighting with/out ears? It makes a difference in this hypothetical.

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Ahhh aerodynamics, I see where you're going.

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That's a point of view I haven't considered lol but I was referring to the Tyson vs. Holyfield fight: https://youtu.be/zKPMVex-UKk?si=SfiMJ4doNYXVdZ2O


Though I feel Holyfield won the fight, he left less of a man, so to speak.



[corrected link]

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You know Tyson did that biting through his mouth guard! Watching the slow motion part it takes Holyfield a moment to understand what is happening and even after that it's like it's no big deal he is just there in his corner getting his ear doused with water.

I can't see Martial Artists being that animalistic. Another point to the boxer in a mixed fight perhaps?

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Perhaps... however, I'm sure Holyfield had to get plastic surgery to fix his ear.

As a counter to Martial Artists not being able to subcome to their animalistic nature, I present:
https://youtu.be/RIC_4fiKOck?si=y9uEEIYH-mkIEp5p&t=95

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LOL for a moment I wondered if I clicked on the right link!

I wonder how many takes they had to do for that as at times you can see them breaking character wanting to laugh.

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haha glad you enjoyed it!

I do think one of the scenes in the dream sequence was a one-take (but I'm not sure which, or that I'm thinking of another film). One of the funniest things ever filmed LOL

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I wonder if you could still do that now given they are making fun of the over the top acting of what is usually Asian actors. I am sure it would upset some (mostly white) people. It is a common thing that gets or used to get parodied, especially the out of sync talking.

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I hear yea, but I'm sure it could still be done but the joke would be ruined by social commentary stating how the joke is not at but is considered physical violence.

Humor and comedy are ever more becoming limited and restricted, which is very sad. Humans should be able to laugh at each other without animosity.

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Yeah, my very first thought was whether or not Lee would have ear lobe protection.

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Recently I watched a few of the Ip Man films with Donnie Yen. For those who may not know Ip Man was the man who trained Bruce Lee. Anyway, in the films boxer vs martial artist is a bit of a theme. Ironically given the movie genre the boxer tends to win a lot. Yes, it's still just a film but regardless it seems the boxer has more power behind him than the martial artist most of the time.

In terms of nun chucks, I don't think they would be allowed in a boxer vs martial artist fight, so immediate dismissal of that argument. I'm pretty sure kicks to the groin are illegal in most combat sports. Not an expert but common sense would suggest so.

Common sense would also suggest if the Martial Artist can use their full array of moves and kicks/punches than why shouldn't the boxer be allowed a broader scope by being able to do things that aren't normally allowed in boxing? It would of course all depend on the rules and what is decided.

I think in the end Tyson would probably need less direct hits to knock Bruce Lee out than vice versa.

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