‘Lessons from Jewish debating team captain!’ Hollywood director Todd Phillips got brutally roasted for teaching Mike Tyson how to punch in Hangover filming

Director Todd Philips reveals Mike Tysons' witty reply on being taught how to punch properly in the Hangover movie.

‘Lessons from Jewish debating team captain!’ Hollywood director Todd Phillips got brutally roasted for teaching Mike Tyson how to punch in Hangover filming

Mike Tyson on set of The Hangover movie (Source: YouTube)

Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has knocked out 44 opponents in his career. But that does not guarantee him a smooth transition of roleplaying a punch on-screen. Tyson starred in the 2009 acclaimed comedy movie The Hangover, in which he played himself. In the premise, he had to punch actor Zach Galifianakis (Alan Garner) with a right hook. But his punch was not well received by the director.

“I remember one scene in particular where we had to punch Zach in the face, you remember in the movie,” said director Todd Philips in an interview with James Corden, on James Corden’s Late Late Show.

“And there’s a particular way of throwing a punch in a movie; he kept doing it wrong. In fact, he kept pulling it back too far… I’m sort of showing him how to throw a punch. Without missing a beat, he (Tyson) goes – Uhh, this is great! I am getting boxing lessons from the captain of the Jewish debating team.” This was during a segment called the Mike Tyson Hangover Stories with Bradley Cooper and Todd Philips.

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YouTube video

Talking on the show In Depth With Graham Bensinger, Tyson later revealed in 2012 that he was “high on c*caine” and only took part in the film to fund his personal drug addiction. But the cast and crew, and the success of the movie itself helped him turn his ways around.

Academy Award winner Phillips has worked with some of the best actors in the trade. He has directed movies such as Joker, Due Date, Ward Dogs, Old School, and the Hangover trilogy. But he recalls this as one of the most memorable encounters over the years. Co-stars of the movie, Galifianakis and Ed Helms have also pitched in on the intensity of how hilarious the scene was.

Related: “Arrogance or ignorance” – Fans perplexed as 57-year-old Mike Tyson fearlessly approaches WILD giant dog and crawls on floor with it

YouTuber makes viral video explaining how to survive a punch from Mike Tyson

Boxer Mike Tyson is unanimously considered one of the greatest heavyweights in the world. With a record of 50-6-1, he has had a decorated span, with 44 career knockouts. So it would naturally surmount to be not a mere joke if one has to face Tyson in a ring, especially without experience. A YouTuber, with 1.7 million subscribers, has however released a video guide on how to survive just that.

Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson (Source – Fast Buds)

“Iron Mike”, called so for a reason, has enjoyed a 20-year career span between 1985 and 2005. An estimated sum total of only 5 boxers have ever defeated him in these 20 years. He became the youngest heavyweight champion ever. He has also been known for mild temper tantrums, which would not bode well for anybody facing him. Back in 2019, the YouTube channel ‘How to Survive’ published a video titled ‘How to Survive a Punch from Mike Tyson’.

YouTube video

With Tyson infamously having a trend to favor body shots, the video directs to be safe from it. Specifically, in the abdominal region. The next prescribed array of techniques takes time to muster up. Those include head movement and footwork, which fighters get to practice on all their career. The video also advises stabilizing the strong neck and trapezius muscles. The more the head rocks around due to these, the more chances of a concussion.

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