Asian Actor Donnie Yen Recalls How He Was Intimated By Mike Tyson

Donnie Yen was intimidated by former boxing champion Mike Tyson while they were filming scenes for IP Man 3; the actor says it was a matter of life and death.

IP Man 3 (released in 2015) continues the story of the martial arts master (played by Donnie Yen) as he confronts a group of criminals led by a sinister property developer (Mike Tyson).

While speaking with THR, Yen disclosed that shooting the fighting scenes with Tyson was an intimidating experience. Even though he was a fan of the former boxer, he reminded himself that he (Tyson) was not an actor but a boxer at the time.

Mike Tyson and Donnie Yen at the premiere of IP Man 3 | Image Source: Variety

Yen stated that he felt there was no need for him to let his guard down, recalling: "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."

Speaking further, he said, "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! His fist was so huge, and it touched my hair."

Yen will appear alongside Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4. He will reportedly play a friend of the gun-wielding protagonist in the highly-anticipated sequel.