I was at that event. The tournament during the day and Wallace's title defense that night. Every martial artist I had ever read about in magazines or heard about was there and you could mingle in the crowd and casually meet them. To this day it was the greatest tournament/martial arts event I have ever attended. I had started my (ongoing) karate training two years before and the atmosphere there was indescribable. I was an art major at Middle Tennessee State at the time and did a pencil sketch of Wallace knocking out Grothe with a hook kick which I framed and gave him that afternoon at The Omni. He was so friendly and gracious accepting my gift and he showed it round to some of his buddies. In the years since I have trained at three of his seminars in my area. He is with good reason a legend in martial arts and one of it's greatest ambassadors.
Glad to hear the admission from the legend that back in 1975 they did not know how to box period. I have watched plenty of video of Bill, Chuck etc and had no problem seeing that their hands were horrible compared to a Champion Boxer. Outside of the feet it was clear two different skill sets. So when people say back in 1972 that Karate legends got their ass kicked by Bruce Lee it could be that even Bruce's novice level and talent could beat any of these future legends.
