Mike Tyson Vs. Bruce Lee

[Woodrodius]

Been asked, Been addressed, but I can resum it up for you late bloomers.

Tyson, for his Ferocity, destructive punching power, streetfighter background, long and successful career, size, strength, and total fight expierience. My favorite boxer is Holyfield, but he just doesn't have that animal look in his eyes. And don't talk trash about Tyson, you and 10 of your you clones couldn't come close to taking him down so please, show a little respect.

[-s/<itzo-]

common guys stick to the thread.

[Woodrodius]

Word that Skitzo, I like the way you think.

 

 

I didn't start the fire, it was always burning since the worlds been turning.....

[TheWhiteRaider]

Superior training means a lot, but Tyson lands one hit, yes ONE HIT, and Bruce would be out cold. Also please note that superior training has NEVER been seen as enough to overcome a GREATLY larger opponent when both are very well trained.

 

Not completely true. If they both have the equal training or close to equal. Then strength and speed are big factors, but also they both have different styles. Lee would block with his elbows. Which the harder Tyson hits the more likely he is to break his fist. Blocking with your elbows is a good way to stop a punch( And it will hurt even with gloves on). And also different style have what are ranges. Boxing range is a little ways away from the person so you can trade blows. Jeet Kun Do range is further than boxing range. And then there is also Traping range which is where you almost lock horns(Or if the other guys is in pain where you move in and finish him.) So Lee would try to stay back from Tyson to stay out of Tyson's range. So Tyson would have a hard time getting in a range where he can punch Lee and when he does Lee would attack and counter-attack.

[Woodrodius]

Sorry to BREAK it to you Whiterider, (Oh yes, Pun definetely intended) but a 200 ppsi blow from Tyson would not be something you wan't to be blocking. In boxing they can do it because they are wearing huge, padded gloves. Blocking a shot from Tyson, especially in the elbow where so many of your nerves are contained, would cause your entire arm to go numb, if not break outright. So he could do that twice, one for each arm, and maybe Tyson, granted, has some bloody knuckles at this point. But at this point, being that all tha lee's got block the next shot with is kisser, well, you get the picture.

[TheWhiteRaider]

Originally posted by Woodrodius

Sorry to BREAK it to you Whiterider, (Oh yes, Pun definetely intended) but a 200 ppsi blow from Tyson would not be something you wan't to be blocking. In boxing they can do it because they are wearing huge, padded gloves. Blocking a shot from Tyson, especially in the elbow where so many of your nerves are contained, would cause your entire arm to go numb, if not break outright. So he could do that twice, one for each arm, and maybe Tyson, granted, has some bloody knuckles at this point. But at this point, being that all tha lee's got block the next shot with is kisser, well, you get the picture.

 

Sorry to break it to you, but all of that is not true. Yes it would if you had your arm at a 180 degree angle. Put your arm at a 90 degree angle and you will see what I mean. Your nerves are not exposed only the bone. And I use this to block and trust me it hurts to punch the end of the elbow even with gloves on(And I was not punching at full power either). A punching bag isn't even as hard. You would need a lot more ppsi punch to damage the elbow when the arm is at 90 degrees. Even if Tyson got Lee's arm numb Tyson would not be able to punch because his fist's bones would be broken. Hitting the elbow is almost like hitting a wall.

 

Also the nerves are on the top if I recall correctly.

[Woodrodius]

I understand your points, but I still believe you are over analyzing. 90 degree angle, 180 degree angle, none of that is going to matter when Tyson hits you. I'm not sure if your fathoming how destructive a blow this would be. And I just dont think that 143 pound Lee could block one, indeed, I don't even think he would try and block one, as Lee was a competent fighter and he would of known when he was in over his head power wise. I'm pretty sure Lee would of attempting dodging more-so then blocking, as is concurrent with the Jeet Kun Do style. The best block is not to be there. But again, for reason's I've stressed, I don't believe his dodging abilities would be enough either.

[TheWhiteRaider]

The elbow block itself is called a "Destruction" Navy Seals are trained how to use it. It is Illegal in friendly fights. It is used incase of a stronger attacker. Heck I recall that in a match a boxer who punched at 178 ppsi broke his hand by nailing the elbow while the person who blocked only felt the impact, but no pain. It has been a time tested method. Even Tyson's punches can't beat the method, but if Tyson gets you in the face or chest that is a different story.

 

And the 90 and 180 degree angles do matter. You want your elbows facing the attacker at all times unless you are punching with that arm. Try shooting a watermellon at 60 mph to a wall. Which will break the wall or the mellon? The block is just like that doesn't matter how much power and speed the result is the same.

 

Though I think you are right when you say Lee will dodge.

[Woodrodius]

Also, boxers mix up punches, and the punching style of boxers is actually one of the hardest to block. The combination of quick straight jabs, and arching crosses make blocking with something as precise are a 90 degree angle, extremely diffucult. Tyson's no dummy either. When boxers are constantly keeping their faces in their gloves they drop downstairs, when the glove drop, they go upstairs. Tyson can improvise extremely well. I stand by my statement that pugilism is an art form, and isn't something you can just muscle your way through. But now im getting a bit away from myself since I've said that were not arguing styles, but fighters. Anyways, thats my 2 cents.

[TheWhiteRaider]

Originally posted by Woodrodius

Also, boxers mix up punches, and the punching style of boxers is actually one of the hardest to block. The combination of quick straight jabs, and arching crosses make blocking with something as precise are a 90 degree angle, extremely diffucult. Tyson's no dummy either. When boxers are constantly keeping their faces in their gloves they drop downstairs, when the glove drop, they go upstairs. Tyson can improvise extremely well. I stand by my statement that pugilism is an art form, and isn't something you can just muscle your way through. But now im getting a bit away from myself since I've said that were not arguing styles, but fighters. Anyways, thats my 2 cents.

 

If you broke your fist would you be able to punch quickly? I would think unless he is superman he would pull his fist back. He only needs to hit it once to be in pain. And I am sure even Tyson would have trouble with a broken fist.

[C'jais]

Lee would win.

 

If Tyson came rushing against Lee, he'd be stopped in his tracks. Why?

 

Because Bruce Lee trained with 200 lbs sand bags (amongst other things) that he sent flying into huge curves like a pendulum. And, he didn't just do this when the sand bag was stationary, he did it when it came swinging back at him with full force - he sent it swinging upwards again, not just stopped it. Even if Tyson could take such a punch, he'd be pacified for at least a half to one second - leaving Lee to do to some nasty follow up techniques against his head, for example.

 

If Tyson took it more slowly, searching for tactical advantages like an opening, he'd still have to do some kind of punch eventually - An arm is shorter than a leg, so Bruce would be in a position/distance to hit Tyson with a kick before Tyson's punch struck home. We aren't talking snazzy flying kicks against the head here either, we're talking about doing an effective kick against his thigh or knee, and then he'd be able to follow up again. Tyson, of course, doesn't know any proper kicks - if he tried some kind "street fighter kick", he'd be partly dodged by Lee who would perfrom a block and a counterattack at the same time. This is a fact that he trained specifically on this technique.

 

With regards to the arm being shorter than the leg, try this yourself: Put your leg on a table (stretched) and stretch your arm along the leg and see for yourself. None of both Tyson or Lee are especially big, Tyson may be very heavy but he's also very squat. Strengh isn't everything - Tyson may hit very hard, but since he strikes slower than Lee, Lee would be quite able to do a counterattack and some follow up techniques.

 

And it's not just Tyson who's been into street fights, Lee has as a fact been into street fights too, though not as many.

 

If you look at Tyson's leg positions/movements (and boxer's in general), you'd see that they aren't used to protecting their thighs. If you aren't used to that, you wouldn't know how to block or absorb a kick against the thighs - you as a tae kwon do-fighter would know how much it hurts when a kick against the thighs hits home without being blocked or absorbed properly.

 

Tyson's knuckles aren't hardened like Lee's were - no matter how many street fights Tyson have been in, he wouldn't have nearly the same hardness as Lee, who trained intensively to harden his knuckles, finger tips, edge of hand and lower arm. This is a fact.

 

Sosai (Sensei) Mas. Oyama founder of kyokushinkai karate, with the nickname "God-hand", would stand a chance against Lee. It's a fact that he killed 47 bulls in his lifetime, three of them with his first hit. The others, he chopped off their horns with his bare hands at first. Practically his entire life he spend hardening his knuckles - they eventually became so deformed that you couldn't distinguish each knuckle from each other (index and "****-finger") and forming an effective hammer.

 

These are all facts, my friend who does karate (kyokushin) knows this from books, internet and his black belt superiors (Shihan (Sensei) Jan Bülow and Sensei Jesper Trier) have actually met Sosai, and have been graduaded by him. Links: http://www.roskildekarateklub.dk -> instruktører -> their names.

[-s/<itzo-]

hey Woodrodius it seems like you keep saying the same thing over and over.

 

 

this is a thread base on our opinions, this is not a debate.

 

 

please get over it.

 

 

one more thing, bruce lee's kick is much much more lethal than any of tyson's punches. i guarantee it.

[Boba Fife]

Some compelling arguements on both sides of the coin.

 

I watched Tyson fight when he was just a kid right up through his teen years and early 20's when he was at the top of his game. You wanna talk about fast? Most of his opponents don't remember their knockout, only the temple-splitting headache the next morning!

 

He had an uppercut and left hook that was so fast and so powerful that men bigger, stronger and heavier than him with a longer reach were kissing the canvas within the first minute of the first round!! Yes. Bruce was lightning fast and incredibly adept, but the fact of the matter is that his only chance for success would be to deliver the same "first round knockout punch" to Tyson. Tyson was tough as a slab of concrete sustaining punches to the face and body that would break the ribs and shatter the cheekbones of a "normal" person. But he never gave his opponent the opportunity to finish him off.

 

His style was not unlike Lee's: an intercepting fist. He saw that split-second "blink of an eye" opening in the opponent's defenses and that's when he/they would fire off a salvo of punches to down their foe. However, I feel that strength, power and endurance would favor Tyson. You have to understand, professional fighters are not merely relegated to throwing punches, but train for thousands of hours on how to dodge and immediately counter a punch which is not unlike a martial artist such as Lee. Their conditioning is almost inhuman. They are so strong and powerful that they literally should be registered as "lethal weapons".

 

Let's not assume that Lee's speed alone would win the fight. He would have to get close enough to deliver a blow and that's when Tyson would throw a combo of hooks and uppercuts and then it would be "lights out" for good ol' Bruce.

 

Don't get me wrong, I think Bruce Lee was one of the most incredible fighters of all time, but I really think we're comparing apples to oranges here. I also think that given a second chance to brawl on the street that Lee would beat Tyson as he was someone who learned and absorbed everything that made him a more effective fighter. He adopted the styles of grapplers, Judo champions, Muhammed Ali, wrestlers, etc. to hone his style of Jeet Kune Do: Way of the Intercepting Fist

[Boba Fife]

Originally posted by TheWhiteRaider

 

 

If you broke your fist would you be able to punch quickly? I would think unless he is superman he would pull his fist back. He only needs to hit it once to be in pain. And I am sure even Tyson would have trouble with a broken fist.

 

You're assuming that Lee would block each and every one of Tyson' punches. How is it that 35 professional heavyweight fighters in succession could not do this? He was 35-0 when beaten by Douglas never having been so much as knocked down in all that time. I think we may be giving too much credit to the martial arts as the ultimate form of fighting.

 

Lee wasn't invincible and everyone has their "off" days. See if you can't track down some past fights of Tyson's (Trevor Berbick, Frank Bruno, Michael Spinks) and you'll see what I mean about intense power coupled with blazing fast speed. There's one fight where Tyson hit his opponent so hard in the face that the other fighter actually moved sideways like he was sliding on ice!! He never saw it coming either.

[Darth Homer]

One point that has also been missed...or maybe not, I haven't read the last couple posts, but oh well...ANYWAY...when Bruce Lee designed Jeet Kune Do, he incorporated boxing into it, Jeet Kune Do was designed as an adaptive style (or as Bruce, put it, "styleless fighting")...since Bruce already knew about boxing he would also know the best way to adapt and defeat it. Also, Jeet Kune Do does not have blocking, or at least Bruce's original version did not...he wouldn't be blocking anything, he'd anticipate the punch and stop it before it started or dodge it to begin with.

[Boba Fife]

Originally posted by Darth Homer

I haven't read the last couple posts.....

 

Maybe you should as I in part discuss how he devised the Jeet Kune Do style.

 

Are my posts too long? Is this why no one ever reads them? Or am I just being ignored completely?

[Woodrodius]

Darth Homer, once again, we arent arguing Jeet Kun Do vs. Boxing or any style against any style. I'm simply arguing that Lee would be unable to stop Tyson from beating him senseless. Watch a Tyson fight, watch how graceful he is, avoiding, dodging, weaving, then he explodes. He's extremely fast, and precise, and has the power to back up those aspects. All he'd need to do is get in close, and Lee would be simply overpowered. Nothing more complex then that. No style, no matter how complex, fancy or flashy, would give Lee the tools to stop Tysons onslaught, it simply couldn't be done.

[C'jais]

Adress this:

 

Originally posted by cjais

If Tyson took it more slowly, searching for tactical advantages like an opening, he'd still have to do some kind of punch eventually - An arm is shorter than a leg, so Bruce would be in a position/distance to hit Tyson with a kick before Tyson's punch struck home. We aren't talking snazzy flying kicks against the head here either, we're talking about doing an effective kick against his thigh or knee, and then he'd be able to follow up again. Tyson, of course, doesn't know any proper kicks - if he tried some kind "street fighter kick", he'd be partly dodged by Lee who would perfrom a block and a counterattack at the same time. This is a fact that he trained specifically on this technique.

 

And this:

 

If you look at Tyson's leg positions/movements (and boxer's in general), you'd see that they aren't used to protecting their thighs. If you aren't used to that, you wouldn't know how to block or absorb a kick against the thighs - you as a tae kwon do-fighter would know how much it hurts when a kick against the thighs hits home without being blocked or absorbed properly.

 

Hate to cut it out for you, but since you won't reply to it, I will.

 

Bruce doesn't need to "get in close with a blow" - he will use his kicks and Tyson can't do a damn thing about it.

 

Lee would most likely do a slightly curved frontal kick against his thigh, leaving the poor man in immense pain. Boxer's legs are practically screaming "HIT ME! OH GOD PLEASE HIT ME!"....

 

Tyson's blows might be very fast, but when we're talking about an open fight, with no holds barred unlike in boxing where it's illegal to hit below the belt, not to mention kicks, grapples and bone breaking "death attacks" that do exist - Tyson won't last 20 seconds.

 

This is a debate about two different persons, not two different fighting styles - please keep that out of here.

 

And don't give me the "35-0" score thing - Denmark has a boxer with a score on 49-0 versus international champions - but you don't see me trying to compare him to Lee.

[Woodrodius]

This is where it mainly breaks down to opinion. In my opinion, even if Lee manages to get a kick in on Tyson on his way in, im not so sure it would begin to even slow him down, let alone really hurt him. Your putting to much faith in this alleged power of Lee. Lee was actually known more for his phenominal upper body strength (Phenominal for his size, not in general) and not particularily devastating kicks. Could he dish it out with his legs? Probably. I have a hard time taking your argument seriously for long, because in between giving me good points, you also drop stuff like, Tyson wouldn't last 20 seconds. Thats where I start to think that you may be a a little mixed up in the "Bruce Lee legend" Personally, although I acknowledge that Lee was a great martial artist, I don't think he was the fighter that everyone says he was. I think much of these rumours comes from his mysterious lifestyle, fantastical feats, (Such as the 1 inch punch which IMO is mainly aesthetic) and his acting career. Break it down to pure physics, and it should be obvious to anyone that there isn't any way Lee could stop Tyson from coming in close and finishing him off. And I think even Lee would aknowledge this. It's a romantic thought to think that skill and discipline could allow the small guy to beat the huge guy, and sometimes it's true. But in this case, I do not believe it to be the case. Watch a Tyson fight, watch him back his opponents into the corner and begin to pummel them, and then try and visually imagine defense against this. It wouln't be possible. It's fantasy vs. reality. I dont have any misconceptions about my martial arts skill. No matter how hard I train, I can't dodge a bullet, I cant kick a train so hard that it wouldn't run me over, and If I got hit by Tyson without a glove, just like anyone, including Lee, I'd be dead. End of story.

[C'jais]

Not end of story.

 

If you honestly think as a Tae Kwon Do fighter that Tyson could take a well placed hit on his thigh and not even flinch for a second, then maybe you're the one being to mixed up in the Mike Tyson legend.

 

Lee's movies were for pure show, they didn't depict the way he'd fight in reality in any way what so ever. You obviously judge Lee based on his fancy movies and compare him to some sort of ballet dancer with nothing to back it up - Lee has on numerous occasions utilized his art of self defense against dudes much larger than himself, and the result was always very messy, and very short.

 

Tyson has never fought against a guy using kicks to the effect of Bruce. Again, bruce can hit a 200 lbs sandbag coming down on him and send it swinging right back. Tyson wouldn't for the love of God know how to defend against kicks, he wouldn't know when to tighten his muscles etc.

 

Notice my remark about the bull fighter - it's very much possible to kill a 400 lbs bull with one hit.

 

Yes, it's very romantic to imagine this Hulk monster vindicating the noble art of boxing, but it's just not going to happen against a person as trained and skilled as Bruce.

[Boba Fife]

Originally posted by cjais

the Mike Tyson legend.

 

His fight record is no legend. It speaks for itself as do the films of the fights.

 

Lee's movies were for pure show, they didn't depict the way he'd fight in reality in any way what so ever.

 

Absolutely and utterly false. He was incredibly meticulous when it came to choreographing his fight sequences adhering religiously to his style and to the way he would've reacted had the scenario been actual.

 

You obviously judge Lee based on his fancy movies and compare him to some sort of ballet dancer with nothing to back it up

 

No one is saying that. This is how you interpret it albeit an incorrect summary.

 

Lee has on numerous occasions utilized his art of self defense against dudes much larger than himself, and the result was always very messy, and very short.

 

The exact same thing could and can be said when refering to Mike Tyson who only stands at 5'10" tall whereas many of his opponents were 6'4" or taller with a much longer reach

 

Again, bruce can hit a 200 lbs sandbag coming down on him and send it swinging right back. Tyson wouldn't for the love of God know how to defend against kicks, he wouldn't know when to tighten his muscles etc.

 

But, Lee said himself, "Boards don't hit back...." Neither do sandbags. Yes. A well-placed kick would be potentially devastating, but to say that boxers legs are basically two pillars from which to support the torso has no validity. They train their legs just as intensely as any other part of their body by running, jumping rope, doing leg presses, etc. as they know that their legs are the base of their attack: they use them to launch their blows just as a martial artist does. They may not use them to kick, but who's to say that Tyson might throw one of those pillars towards an opponent? Would you wanna be kicked by him??? His thighs are like tree trunks comprised of solid muscle.

 

Notice my remark about the bull fighter - it's very much possible to kill a 400 lbs bull with one hit.

 

A good analogy, but not applicable here as Tyson wasn't a "raging bull" (no pun intended). His moves were as calculated as Lee's were. I think you may be unfairly painting heavyweight fighters as monodirectional lummoxes which is completely untrue.

 

Yes, it's very romantic to imagine this Hulk monster vindicating the noble art of boxing, but it's just not going to happen against a person as trained and skilled as Bruce.

 

Well, it's apparent that your mind is made up and we're just going to have to agree to disagree. The training of a world champion fighter is no less rigorous or intense than the Lee's was. I hate to break it to you, but it's true. I don't dispute Lee's ability or his capacity to obliterate just about anyone who stood in front of him, but I think that, in this case, might would triumph over speed and technique only because Tyson's might was coupled with speed and technique.

 

Lee was no more a "ballet dancer" any more than Tyson was a "charging bull".

[C'jais]

Originally posted by Boba Fife

 

His fight record is no legend. It speaks for itself as do the films of the fights.

 

Absolutely and utterly false. He was incredibly meticulous when it came to choreographing his fight sequences adhering religiously to his style and to the way he would've reacted had the scenario been actual.

 

The Danish boxer I said had a record of 49-0 wouldn't last against Lee. Records doesn't prove anything.

Once again, Tyson has no experience fighting guys like Lee, whereas Lee has plenty of experience fighting almost any style, maybe excepting capoeira (sp?).

 

One of us got our sources wrong about his choreographing his movies, 'cause I've been told the opposite from a guy that has Lee as a hobby. Regardless, there's a huge difference between using semicontact hits and full force with the intention of killing - particulary when it's being caught on film.

 

But, Lee said himself, "Boards don't hit back...." Neither do sandbags. Yes. A well-placed kick would be potentially devastating, but to say that boxers legs are basically two pillars from which to support the torso has no validity. They train their legs just as intensely as any other part of their body by running, jumping rope, doing leg presses, etc. as they know that their legs are the base of their attack: they use them to launch their blows just as a martial artist does. They may not use them to kick, but who's to say that Tyson might throw one of those pillars towards an opponent? Would you wanna be kicked by him??? His thighs are like tree trunks comprised of solid muscle.

 

Sandbags don't hit back no, but it's a fair indication of the power of his legs.

 

Tyson's kicks.... yes, they would be fatal - for him. Tyson has no skill or experience in kicking compared to even a basic karate fighter. Lee would make good use of Tyson's attempts at kicking, and disable his ability to do just that pretty quickly. When you say that Tyson uses his legs a solid base for his attacks, you are exactly right - and this is the difference between boxing and martial arts focusing on kicks. A boxer spreads his legs so as to better stabilize his body for those long, arcing blows, whereas Lee would place them closer so as not to get hit. The thing is, when your left or right leg is spaced out to better support the jabs and swings of boxing, it's being wide open for abuse by an opponent who knows how to kick.

 

I can cut it out for you: Tyson's complete lack of experience against martial artists (other than boxing), his complete lack of kick and the way they're employed and his lack of understanding of how much further a kick can hit compared to a punch will leave him in a very bad position to say the least.

 

I was merely using the "raging bull" analogy to simplify Lee's defence against Tyson if he were as dumb as to charge straight at him "meat grinder style" - that's where the comment on the bull and the sandbag comes in. Do you know how much more dangerous it is to be charged by a bull than it is to be charged by Tyson? And when a martial artist less great than Lee can kill such a charging bull with one hit... well... I wouldn't want to be Tyson in this case.

 

Yes, a boxer's training is very hard, but it's only being geared towards fighting other boxers - not kick boxers or judo specialists with the intention of breaking your neck.

 

Of course, you can always say that Lee was pure myth no matter what I say, and I can always say that I have yet to see Tyson fight against a black belt in karate or kung fu.

[Boba Fife]

Well, I never said that Lee's ability was pure myth. I fancy myself as one of those who immortalize his legacy and his ability as one of the world's great pioneers in fighting whatever the style or technique from bar room brawling to champion Muay Thai.

 

I hear every word you're saying when it comes to his kicking ability. "His" meaning Lee's. One kick to the right area for anyone would mean lights out! I don't dispute that, but let's not assume that he'd get a good one in before receiving an uppercut that would lift him off his feet.

 

Opinion is the only thing we have here as this is a completely fantastic scenario as Bruce is, unfortunately, dead and Tyson is, well, an idiot. But you shoulda seen him in his early 20's when Cus D'Amato was his trainer. Truly awe-inspiring as much as watching Bruce in a fight sequence. I'm always completely amazed at how some people can be that much in touch with their bodies where the mind and physical vessel are one.

 

By the way, your friend couldn't be more wrong about Bruce Lee and his staged fight sequences. He was so anal about each and every swing of the fist and dodge of the head, etc, that he would film every single sequence numerous times until it was completely perfect. There are archives that document his sketches of the choreography. After all, who was gonna tell Bruce Lee how to "fight"? Steven Spielberg? Quentin Tarantino? That'd be like my giving Mario Andretti driving tips.

 

You really should see if you can get your hands on some of Tyson's fights. He, like Lee, was an amazing person to watch in action. It might make you nod your head and say, "Yeah, I can see where he's comin' from." Even if you still disagree, you'll be amazed at his ability.

 

Neither one of us are qualified to say with any certainty who would win such an altercation. It'd be one hell of a night to have the buds over with some pizza and beer to watch the tape of it though!!

[C'jais]

Yeah, I would like to watch Tyson fight, "back in da day" - though I have to settle with the "Tyson versus Danish boxer"

 

I'll tell my friend that, thx

 

However, as my parting word, I'll still claim that one of Lee's low kicks could hit before Tyson's jabs hit in return.....

[Woodrodius]

Word that fife.

 

Cjais, while you stress that Mike only trained to fight other boxers, I would like to point out that Lee may have never trained to fight anyone as explosive as Tyson. Jeet Kun Do is very analytical of angles of punches and kicks coming in at you, the positions of two fighting bodies in combat with eachother, the movement of feet, the shifting of stances. This is also true in my sport, Tae Kwon Do sparring. I once saw a very skilled Tae Kwon Do sparrer get into a ring with some big bruiser. As soon as the match started, the bruiser rushed and and was pretty much just boxing and throwing a few kicks in here and there. It totally threw off the sparrers game. Some things just don't transpire well into real life situation, and when you have an explosive power house such as Tyson rushing you, I think even Lee would be hard pressed to think his way through it, which was in fact what Lee did and what made him such an innovative fighter. He thought his way through it. Check out some Tyson fights like fife said and you may get a better idea of what im speaking about, I've been downloading some Lee video to get a better point of view from your perspective.