I interpreted that scene as a tribute to Bruce Lee, who incorporated a lot of boxing techs into his fighting, and who also made a movie version of the same story. Bruce's version is called The Chinese Connection.
All my fight strategy is based on deliberately injuring my opponents. -
Crippled Avenger
"It is the same in all wars; the soldiers do the fighting, the journalists do the shouting, and no true patriot ever get near a front-line trench, except on the briefest of propoganda visits...Perhaps when the next great war comes we may see that sight unprecendented in all history, a jingo with a bullet-hole in him."
First you get good, then you get fast, then you get good and fast.