Yeah, he was probably mostly hollywood hype... though he did compete quite a bit with the likes of Chuck Norris.
"Bruce also instructed several
World Karate Champions including
Chuck Norris,
Joe Lewis, and Mike Stone. Between the three of them, during their training with Bruce, they won every karate championship in the United States."
"In the same Long Beach event he also performed the "
One inch punch."
[36] Lee stood upright, his right foot forward with knees bent slightly, in front of a standing, stationary partner. Lee's right arm was partly extended and his right fist approximately one inch (2.5 cm) away from the partner's chest. Without retracting his right arm, Lee then forcibly delivered the punch to his partner while largely maintaining his posture, sending the partner backwards and falling into a chair said to be placed behind the partner to prevent injury, though his partner's momentum soon caused him to fall to the floor. His volunteer was Bob Baker of
Stockton, California. "I told Bruce not to do this type of demonstration again", Baker recalled. "When he punched me that last time, I had to stay home from work because the pain in my chest was unbearable"."
"Lee appeared at the 1967
Long Beach International Karate Championships and performed various demonstrations, including the famous "unstoppable punch" against USKA world
Karate champion
Vic Moore.
[35] Lee told Moore that he was going to throw a straight punch to the face, and all he had to do was to try to block it. Lee took several steps back and asked if Moore was ready. When Moore nodded in affirmation, Lee glided towards him until he was within striking range. He then threw a straight punch directly at Moore's face, and stopped before impact. In eight attempts, Moore failed to block any of the punches."
If Tyson did hit him I imagine would be in trouble, of course, but you would have to be able to even hit him,which many could not.
That and the weight difference.
Not sure what type of a fight we are speaking of anyway.