Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticNinjaJay
Is a fighter to you only someone who competes in an organized combat sport?
I'd argue that Bruce Lee was not a competitive athlete or Professional Fighter. But he was certainly a Martial Artist who was known by several sources to have competed in underground fights.
That would make him a fighter as much as someone like Kimbo Slice is a fighter. Just because they didn't have Youtube videos back then and Bruce didn't record these fights doesn't mean he never used his skills in a real fight. Certainly with no documented evidence his fighting prowess in real combat is hearsay at best however he was more than an actor.
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I was with you till you brought up Kimbo.
Reasons Kimbo is a "fighter" and Lee wasn't:
1) Kimbo Slice issued open challenges and took them, fighting known and verifiable opponents.
2) Kimbo Slice has several professional fights.
3) Kimbo Slice worked in a "hands on" profession that puts one into contact with people on a fist-to-face basis (bodyguard for the Milfhunter crew).
So, the guy may be a complete dirtbag, he's not a philosopher or a founder of anything, but he is a fighter. Not a notable fighter, not a champion at the Golden Gloves, Amatuer MMA, Olympic or any other level but a fighter none the less. Lee wasn't.