Bruce Lee is arguably the most influential martial artist ever to grace the silver screen. His filmography includes some of the most beloved martial arts movies ever made, and his contributions to the genre cannot be overstated. Audiences can notice nods to Lee’s films in countless other martial arts and action movies. His legacy has also transcended creative mediums. For example, popular fighters in Lee’s likeness exist in video games, such as Law in Tekken and Fei Long in Street Fighter.

Many would agree that Bruce Lee was a legend in the martial arts movie genre. His first title, The Big Boss, premiered in 1971 and quickly became the highest-grossing movie in Hong Kong at the time. Interestingly, it was toppled several months later by Fist of Fury, Lee’s second movie. The Way of the Dragon premiered in 1972 and is remarkable for multiple reasons, including its setting, as much of the film was shot in Rome.

In The Way of the Dragon, Bruce Lee stars as Tang Lung, a Chinese man away from home visiting relatives in Rome, but quickly becomes embroiled in a struggle to protect the family restaurant from a vicious gang. The title contains some phenomenal fight scenes. Many occur in the alleyway behind the restaurant, where we’re treated to a showcase of Lee’s mastery with nunchucks.

The Way of the Dragon may be more than five decades old, but it also features a climactic 1v1 fight that’s still regarded as one of the best in the genre, bar none. Bruce Lee fights Chuck Norris in an intense showdown to the death. It’s a grand spectacle and inadvertently paved the way for another hero in the genre to emerge, one who became a household name.

Chuck Norris’ First Credited Role Came In Bruce Lee’s The Way Of The Dragon

Chuck Norris has multigenerational appeal and is adored for his expansive filmography, including some unforgettable action movies. Norris’ strength remains an important part of pop culture today, still referenced online and even in books. He became an action star during the late 70s and 80s, with Missing in Action and The Delta Force among his fan favorites.

It’s remarkable, then, that his first major credited role was in Bruce Lee’s The Way of the Dragon. Chuck Norris plays Colt in the 1972 movie. He’s a villain, and a powerful fighter, and Lung’s toughest opponent by far. It was an inspired casting, as Norris had not yet led any movies at the time, but he already knew Bruce Lee as the pair met in 1968 when Norris won the World Karate Tournament in New York.

Norris looks so comfortable and intimidating in The Way of the Dragon because he is a trained fighter, which elevates the scene into something truly special. Per a 2005 interview with Fight Magazine, Norris reportedly claimed that Lee offered him the role as they worked out together.

Bruce Lee Vs. Chuck Norris Is Still One Of The Best Martial Arts Movie Fights Ever

It’s tough to pick just a single fight as the best in Bruce Lee’s repertoire. However, many fans would declare his fight with Chuck Norris is the greatest, and it remains arguably one of the finest bouts in martial arts movie history.

The pair square off against a grand coliseum backdrop. Unlike many fights we’ve seen in The Way of the Dragon before, this is an uninterrupted 1v1. Neither has any allies ready to intervene, and it’s clear that Colt intends to fight to the death. It’s immediately obvious why Lee chose Norris to play Colt, as his movements and attacks look powerful and deliberate.

Lung and Colt trade blows, and it’s a fight that feels raw and has gravitas even today. There’s little music, and it’s quite shocking to see Lung take some punishment after effortlessly trouncing his opponents before. The buildup is phenomenal. Both fighters take the time to warm up, and respect that neither will take a cheap shot before the fight. There’s no talking, and the audience knows right away that both fighters are playing for keeps. The fight itself is unforgettable, with few cuts, so we can see every attack.

Bruce Lee Wanted Chuck Norris In His Way Of The Dragon Follow-Up

Bruce Lee‘s showdown with Chuck Norris is easily the best fight in The Way of the Dragon, so it only makes sense that Lee would want him in another movie. Lee asked Norris to play Oharra in his fourth movie, Enter the Dragon. However, Norris declined the offer, reportedly because he did not want to lose to Lee a second time.

Bob Wall played O’Hara, Han’s personal bodyguard, instead of Norris. His performance is one of the movie’s highlights, and his showdown with Lee is a jaw-dropping, surgical demonstration of speed. Martial arts fans can only imagine what another fight between Norris and Lee would look like, but Norris’ choice to decline may have been the right call for his career. He used the notoriety he gained in The Way of the Dragon to pursue leading roles, and ultimately got them, becoming a legendary action star in the process.

We can only speculate on what a Norris version of O’Hara would look like. Still, it may have been the right move to avoid being typecast as a martial arts villain who always loses to the hero.