@RegalBeagle It was a selling point. The main character was a famous pro wrestler at the time. People watched that movie just for that scene.
The claim made by some people is that the reason it went on way too long is too symbolize the desire of people not to be exposed to truths that make them uncomfortable and how difficult and grueling an amount of time it takes to get someone to accept certain truths that they do not want to because being exposed to those truths makes them uncomfortable
But maybe the movie would be more entertaining if the fight scene was shorter