Then you've got the crux of the film an alternate-history reimagining of what would have happened if someone was able to stop Charles Manson and his Family from murdering actress Sharon Tate and several others on August 9, 1969. At four months old (April 1941), the Lee family returned to Hong Kong. Bruce Lee was tiny, and Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight! Critics, including Inosanto, took umbrage with the scenes depiction of a stuntman holding his own against the Enter the Dragon actor, at one point catching Lees kick and throwing him into a car. Many people have said throughout the years that Bruce Lee had a lot of respect for Muhammad Ali. Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. Ali retired in the early 1980s and died in 2016, but remains the biggest boxing icon ever. "I was very lucky to . Norton didnt. Muhammad Ali is the GOAT of boxing. But if Cliff and Bruce Lee were fighting in the jungles of the Philippines in a hand-to-hand combat fight, Cliff would kill him.". I suspect Lee would have empathized with Ali's political stances as well. Naturally, were talking about Bruce Lee. The Japanese giant kicked at Alis legs for 15 rounds and absorbed a handful of jabs. JKD54. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Bruce Lee on the left and prime Mike Tyson on the far right, red line marks Goku's height. 'That's a little Chinese hand. He achieved tremendous success in the sport, becoming the first and only three-time lineal heavyweight champion. Bruce said, "I'm studying every move he makes. Tate then introduced Lee to her husband, director Roman Polanski, who trained with him as well. Given the apparent differences between the Bruce Lee vs. Cliff Booth fight scene in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and how Lee had a much more positive real-life relationship with Gene LeBell, it's not surprising that Lee's friends and family were very critical of how Quentin Tarantino wrote his character. As explained by The Things, Bruce Lee was taking his status as a legitimate fighter a little too seriously when he was playing Kato on "The Green Hornet" in 1966. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. And if he could repeat the feat, then Alis career would be in serious jeopardy. The lead jab is a feeler, wrote Lee in a chapter of the book entitled Tools. It is the basis of all other blows, a loose, easy stinger. Joe Frazier, theres a man who is capable of using his tools and who is very determined in a savage, relentless attack, said Lee of the then-reigning heavyweight champion before taking a swipe at one of Fraziers predecessors. All rights reserved. "Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy," Tarantino said at a recent press junket in Moscow. Gavin Evans is a contributor for Complex Media. All Rights Reserved. The event was the Long Beach International Karate Championships, where three years earlier Lee's demonstration of such improbable physical feats as two-finger push-ups and one-inch punches got him the attention in the U.S. that led to the role of Kato on The Green Hornet. Profile. Inosanto pointed to a line in Tarantino's script where Bruce Lee makes a dig at Muhammad Ali and said Lee "would have never said anything derogatory about Muhammad Ali because he worshiped the . Despite his reputation, Ali went into the fight as an underdog against Foreman, the then-undefeated champion. Theres no actual winner of the fight, although many found it distasteful that Tarantino could diminish Bruce Lees fighting skills by having him thrown into a car by Cliff. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. In June 1976, he ventured to Japan to take on a famous wrestler named Antonio Inoki. Bruce Lee was a man who could flow like water, scream like an animal, and spin some nunchucks like nobody's business. I played Pookie (in New Jack City). 8 yr. ago Damn. Even if they were the same size, Id still go for Muhammad Ali, because he actually had competition experience where Bruce Lee did not. "Bruce Lee was often a cocky, strutting braggart, but Tarantino took those traits and exaggerated them to the point of caricature," says Polly, who takes exception with Lee boasting about beating boxing champ Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) in a fight. It is a whip rather than a club. Throughout the years, Muhammad Ali has been involved in so many hypothetical fight scenarios. Because while he may lay more hits on Tyson, one hit from. 4 What was Muhammad Ali's weight advantage? Lee was referring to Alis dancing legs and the Ali shuffle, which he became known for in the ring. The . Tyson, who is a huge admirer of Ali, would. Send PM. But again, that's just my take: everyone will have their own opinions on this, and it's absolutely fair to think that the intention of the scene wasn't translated well in the execution. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. In the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Bruce Lee predicted that he would beat Muhammad Ali. And if youre not accustomed to that you will lose. So yeah, Lee was probably right. The influence Ali had on him is undeniable. The film depicts Lee (played by Mike Moh) swaggering around the set of "Green Hornet,". Many people have said throughout the years that Bruce Lee had a lot of respect for Muhammad Ali. He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. Warning:Spoilers ahead for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.". ', "Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. When it came to kung fu, Lee taught against sticking to traditional stances and forms and wholeheartedly believed that martial artists should be willing to adapt and learn from other sources. Unlike the Inoki affair, we can choose our rules. (Muhammad) Alis theory is to picture hitting a fly with a swatter.. While this was Tarantino's fictional take on a typical day in the life of Bruce Lee, there was actually a real-life incident with a stuntman that inspired the aforementioned scene. For a man who is not as titanic as Tyson or Ali, he landed punches that clocked 190 km/h. (The Pussycat was torn down in 2000, but the marquee was rebuilt for the film.). Quentin Tarantino broke his silence on the backlash to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood during the films recent Moscow press conference. "Bruce Lee was often a cocky, strutting braggart, but Tarantino took those traits and exaggerated them to the point of caricature," says Polly, who takes exception with Lee boasting about. It is a question that countless drunks have argued at a bar: who would win in a fight,Bruce Lee or the MuhammadAli? In 1964, Rhee met Bruce Lee at Ed Parker's International Karate Championship in Long Beach, California. In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. I'm getting to know how he thinks and moves. "Everybody says I must fight Ali some day." . Must be 18 years of age to enter Sweepstakes. Bruce Lee admired Muhammad Ali and had immense respect for him. A clip of the training is shown in the film. Everybody says I must fight Ali some day. Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. In his long career, Ali defended his title from an impressive number of 21 experienced challengers, many of which being some of the best fighters in the sport at the time. It might be interesting to team that classic, if obscure, character with someone like Throg, Darkwing Duck, Batman, or (my choice because of its residence in Left Field) Etrigan. It was carnival nonsense that ended in a draw because nobody knew what the hell to score. 'Look at my hand,' he said. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Alis image from the screen. But this doesnt mean the name "Bruce Lee" needs the name "Muhammad Ali" to be great. If Bruce Lee truly believed that Ali could defeat him, that would be reason enough for Lee to take inspiration from him. Enter the Dragon director Clouse, who worked closely with Lee for the 1973 cult classic, revealed that the Hong Kong-American former actor opened up about the outcome of the fight. The story actually comes from the 1987 book,The Making of Enter the Dragon, and it features Enter the Dragondirector Robert Clause talking about what Bruce Lee told him once while the two were filming their 1973 movie. What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. Bruce's right hand followed Ali's right hand, Ali's left foot followed Bruce's left foot. But what if The Greatest took on another famous icon, someone that didnt actually fight for a living but is still regarded as one of the greatest martial artists of all time? After initially refusing to do so, LeBell put Lee down and reassured him that he was "just kidding.". While filming a movie, Chan recalled when Lee appeared and started doing his thing. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. "The reality of the situation is this: Cliff is a Green Beret. YOU GET TO CHOOSE your own prize! Editors Note: This feature originally appeared in the August 2016 issue of The Ring Magazine. The French Normandy-style house where the murders took place was destroyed in 1994. Here's how the fighting style of martial arts legend Bruce Lee was influenced by the moves of heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. He is a killer. After midnight, four members of the Manson family Tex Watson, Linda Kasabian, Susan Atkins and Patricia Krenwinkel parked at the dark bottom of the street (Tarantino filmed some street scenes on Cielo Drive) and walked up the hill. Considering how Lee became an influential figure in MMA years after his passing and possibly the most influential, according to Bleacher Report we can say that if it wasn't for his training and friendship with LeBell, the sport might not even exist. Meanwhile, another one of Lee's proteges, Dan Inosanto, told Variety that his late mentor "would have never said anything derogatory" about Muhammad Ali, considering how he was a huge fan of the boxing icon. Ali, who famously had a crossover fight with Antonio Inoki in 1976, suffered a long battle with Parkinson's disease before he passed away in 2016 at the age of 74. Filmmakers were able to re-create "pretty much building-for-building what Spahn Ranch used to look like," says Schuler. In 1981, world famous boxer Muhammad Ali once talked a suicidal man off the ledge of a building. Lee is introduced holding court for everyone who will listen, bragging that he could beat boxing champ Cassius Clay, a.k.a. So it looks like Lee has settled this debate long ago. Alright? He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. If people are saying, 'Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali.' "Bruce's right hand followed Ali's right hand, Ali's left foot followed Bruce's left foot. A wonderful, wonderful man and a great martial artist.". He'd kill me.". "[Chuck Norris] could'. The legendary boxer remains an icon who stands tall in the history of the sport. No purchase necessary. Muhammad Ali would win, because Bruce Lee was an actor and not actually an athlete. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. ", Also pictured are the classic, still-standing marquees of famed bar the Frolic Room, the Pantages Theater (both still open) and the Vine Theater. What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. Bruces right hand followed Alis right hand, Alis left foot followed Bruces left foot. Have you seen kickboxing? To credit this as a mixed martial arts event, as some do, is overpraise. He was worlds ahead of everyone else. Not only did he say that, but his wife, Linda Lee, said that in her the first biography I ever read was Linda Lee's Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew, and she absolutely said it.". The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Instead of simply doing as he was instructed, LeBell grabbed Lee and placed him on his shoulders, running around the set as the Kato actor supposedly asked the judo expert to "put me down or I'll kill you!" Did he have a good engine in a fight? Total 29,751 days. If i want to learn how to punch jabs, uppercuts, cross, etc., i would ask Ali to teach me that. Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. With his innovative approach to the martial arts, his uncanny ability to master whatever he was shown in minutes and those incredible physical tools, he might have transcended boxing, or UFC, just as he did action cinema. Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy, Tarantino said at a recent press junket in Moscow. Bruce Lee was a martial arts legend known for his kung fu skills, but even he felt that there were a few things he could learn from the world-famous heavyweight boxing champion. If people are saying, Well he never said he could beat up Mohammad Ali, well yeah he did. Bruce set up a wide full-length. Is what he admires are warriors. If you ask me the question, 'Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee or Dracula?' Lee, who was aware of this, paid close attention to this. Ali was also a part of the famous simulated fight with Rocky Marciano. Martial arts icon Bruce Lee admitted that the legendary Muhammad Ali would have 'killed him' in a crossover fight, according to Robert Clouse. Muhammed Ali passed away this evening: He was born there on November 27, 1940, making him a dual Hong Kong and United States citizen by birth. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. MUHAMMAD ALI was once stood up by Elvis Presley - who turned up "drunk or high" at 4am to watch the boxing legend in a sparring session. And then we remembered something important: We know Bruce Lee's biographer. Look at my hand, he said. ', Pam Grier Thought Samuel L. Jackson's Fast 'Jackie Brown' Dialogue Would Make Her Fall Down the Stairs, Oscars 2023: Best Costume Design Predictions. To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-n1h13z{color:black;color:#fff;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-n1h13z{color:#fff;}}Published15:16,09 January 2020 GMT.css-qdg7d1{color:#72B97D;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-qdg7d1{color:#72B97D;}}| Last updated23:14,09 January 2020 GMT. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. Things change dramatically in a mixed martial arts bout. Far from being insulted or intimidated by Gene LeBell's attempt to put him in his place, Bruce Lee took it as a learning experience. He can be reached by email at [email protected] and on Twitter at @cnraymond91. Lee passed away in 1973 at the age of 32. Lee highly respected Ali for being a role model for all martial artists, saying that Ali had a way of "using what he knows to be free" when standing in the ring. They broke into the home and committed the grisly ritualistic killings after midnight (Steve Parent, a fifth victim, isn't depicted in the film). Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. According to Clause, Lee considered both sides of the argument and even practiced fighting Ali by using a full-length mirror. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. "Look at my hand," he said. I'm getting to know how he thinks and moves." Maybe he was cocky in as far as martial arts because he was very sure of himself. If you havent seen Quentin Tarantinos OnceUponaTimeinHollywood yet, go ahead and skip to the next section. Hed kill me.'. Cliff is not part of the sport. Inosanto pointed to a line in Tarantinos script where Bruce Lee makes a dig at Muhammad Ali and said Lee would have never said anything derogatory about Muhammad Ali because he worshiped the ground Muhammad Ali walked on., Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy, Tarantino told press about depicting the actor in such a cocky manner. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Polanski was out of town shooting that summer. The KO technique Muhammad Ali learned from a taekwondo master, who learned it from Bruce Lee Muhammad Ali's head coach for the bout in which he earned his last KO was The Father of American Taekwondo, Jhoon Rhee, who taught him a punch he learned from Bruce Lee. Even if they were the same size, Id still go for Muhammad Ali, because he actually had competition experience where Bruce Lee did not.. The weight and height advantage is massive. As explained by The Things, Bruce Lee was taking his status as a legitimate fighter a little too seriously when he was playing Kato on "The Green Hornet" in 1966. June 3, 201602:13. Lee was a boxing fan. Enter the RockMerch Official Sweepstakes of Rock Music! The reality of the situation is this: Cliff is a Green Beret. "Bruce revered Cassius Clay; he never claimed he could beat the champ," says Polly. The way he was talking, I didnt just make a lot of that up. The problem was that Ali arrived at the Budokan Hall to face off with Inoki and nobody was laughing. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Alis image from the screen. Everybody says I must fight Ali some day, Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. In 1970, a wildfire destroyed most of the site's Western buildings. Bruce Lee himself was actually inspired by him. He'd kill me.'". The reality of the situation is this: Cliff is a Green Beret. I heard him say things like that to that effect. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali.Bruces right hand followed Alis right hand, Alis left foot followed Bruces left foot. Besides, Ronda Rouseytold Maximlast year that Ali would absolutely crush Lee in a street fight. The scene was highly controversial as members of Lees family were outraged of how he was portrayed in the film, saying he would never act that way. In his later fights, Ali weighed in at about 230-pounds. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. He comes across as an arrogant (expletive) who was full of hot air, she told The Wrap. If Lee can use legs, then he has the power, skill and quickness to hurt Ali badly. "The philosophy of Lee is more powerful than the martial arts of Lee," says Little, author of "The Warrior Within: The Philosophies of Bruce Lee." "Everything that Bruce Lee did flowed from his mind and his thinking." And it flowed from his pride in his Chinese heritage as well. Ask yourself, did he have a good chin? If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, hes a fictional character so he could beat Bruce Lee up. Offline. One critic wrote: 'Those who watched him would bet on Lee to render Cassius Clay senseless if they were put in a room and told that anything goes." The way he was talking, I didnt just make a lot of that up. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. 'Mandalorian' star Pedro Pascal, creators on new Grogu revelations and 'Last of Us' comparisons, Saved by the bell: Contestant ordered to keep mask on, in historic 'Masked Singer' first, Chris Pine admits 'it does look' like Harry Styles spit on him but this is what actually happened, Rebel Wilson 'collapsed' after Ramona Agruma proposal: 'I was so overwhelmed', Amy Grant recalls being 'so scared' to return to touring following serious bike accident. The central story of the film which marks Tarantino's biggest box-office debut, earning $40 million opening weekend is set amid true Hollywood landmarks and involves very real stars, ranging from Bruce Lee (Mike Moh) to Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie). If you ask me the question, Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee or Dracula? Its the same question. When Bruce Lee was younger, he predicted Muhammad Ali would kill him. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Ken Norton, a former Marine, had broken his jaw and outpointed him in March 1973. "That was a must-have and we showed quintessential Hollywood locations that have survived. Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee never met. . The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. "It was all in the way he moved - the way he moved made him famous. The fightingskillofBruce Leeis iconic in its own right, but it was actually inspired by Muhammad Ali. Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Lewis was a heavyweight kickboxer; Lee was 5-foot-8 and weighed less than 150 pounds. Lee was known to be a very humble man and while the scene was certainly entertaining, it was inaccurate. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. George Dillman, who trained with both the People's Champion and Bruce Lee, revealed the two icons then went antique shopping after the King of Rock and Roll sobered up. Thats a little Chinese hand. There is no substitute for absorbing punishment and firing back. Im getting to know how he thinks and moves. Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. "What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali] documentary. The list goes on and on. Hed kill me.". So if Cliff were fighting Bruce Lee in a martial arts tournament in Madison Square Garden, Bruce Lee would kill him. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with AliBruce was fighting in Ali's shoes," the book fascinatingly states, before revealing what the martial artist thought might happen if they met in the ring. But despite how things came off in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the man born Lee Jun-fan didn't think he stood a chance against the man formerly known as Cassius Clay. But the next section of his answer is the one I find the most illuminating: "Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? In fact, he was into boxing more so than martial arts,". Nicholas' love for telling stories is inspired by his love for film noir, westerns, superhero movies, classic films, and ancient history. She absolutely said that, the director continued. Tarantino featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the film. This philosophy was arguably the precursor to mixed martial arts. "'Everybody says I must fight Ali someday.' Aside from all those heroics, one of the more memorable scenes from "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" features Pitt's character, stuntman Cliff Booth, recalling an altercation he had with Bruce Lee(Mike Moh) on the set of"The Green Hornet"that got him fired. In the past, Lee claimed that if he ever met Ali, he would be assassinated. ", The Incident That Inspired The Bruce Lee Scene In Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Influencers: Profiles of a Partnership 2022, How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, Austin Butler Reveals Why Quentin Tarantino Does Multiple Takes: 'We Love Making Movies! But fans have long asked what would have happened if the martial arts legend, real name Lee Jun-fan, fought Ali in a blockbuster dream clash. In fact, Complex reported that Lee once said that Ali would kill him if the two ever fought. That didnt come from nowhere. Here's an excerpt from that book: Another time Yeung, aka [Bolo] went to see Bruce at Golden Harvest Studios. Bruce Lee 's widow, Linda Lee Cadwell has also taken issue with Quentin Tarantino 's portrayal of her late husband in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Inosanto said, He was never, in my opinion, cocky. How Bruce Lee's Fighting Style Was Inspired By Muhammad Ali (& Why), How Bruce Lee's One-Inch Punch Really Works, Every Actor Bruce Lee Trained In Hollywood, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Set Up Shrek 5 Entirely By Accident, Why Obi-Wan Didnt Use Force Speed To Save Qui-Gon Jinn From Darth Maul. The story is based on the 1987 book The Making of Enter the Dragon. Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. The same problems would exist. Here's why, By Bruce Lee 's own admission, Muhammad Ali is one fighter that he thought he could never beat in a fight. Bruce Lee was one of the most prominent and influential martial artists, an actor, movie producer, martial art instructor, and creator of Jeet Kune Do. The Bruce Lee conversation surrounding this movie has become somewhat fraught: the scene is a vortex of discussions about Asian representation on screen, whether a cinematic icon has been given the proper amount of respect, and why Tarantino chose to use Lee in the first place, just to name a few. But what Lee lacked in brute force, he made up for in otherworldly speed and skill. Lee passed away in 1973 at the age of 32 from cerebral edema, which could have been caused by a reaction to prescription painkillers. He is a combat person., Tarantino concluded, If Cliff were fighting Bruce Lee in a martial arts tournament in Madison Square Garden, Bruce would kill him. One Winner will receive $500 in FREE authentic, licensed, Rock Music Merchandise from RockMerch. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Published Jun 15, 2021. Bruce Lee, the GOAT of martial arts, has no ties to Florida. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. NEW YORK (AP) Sunday studio estimates say the gonzo R-rated horror comedy "Cocaine Bear" sniffed up $23.1 million in its opening weekend, while Marvel's "Ant-Man and the Wasp . (Given that Dalton is fictional, his house obviously wasn't next door.). An entire cottage industry was created after his death to essentially clone him through impersonation Bruce Le and Bruce Li were the two most prominent imitators in film. Cliff takes the second round in more brutal fashion by throwing Bruce into the side of a car. Ali was later hospitalized with blood clots. One of those people was the director of Lees most famous film, EntertheDragon, Robert Clouse. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is in theaters now. There just happens to be a difference between those types of encounters and a showdown against a combat athlete. Muhammad Ali, one of history's most famous and renowned athletes, was . And there you have it. Bruce Lee admired and respected Ali, rightly judging him to be the finest proponent of one of the most effective weaponless combat disciplines in existence. The Best Picture Race Got a Lot More Confusing This Week, Tom Cruise Made the Rounds This Week, but Other Oscar Nominees Got More Applause Than Top Gun: Maverick, These Oscar Categories Are the Hardest to Predict, Translating the Unconscious Into Images: The Cinematography of Bardo, Poker Face Takes Viewers on a Cross-Country Road Trip Without Leaving New York, Why TR Looks Different from Every Other Movie of 2022, The 50 Best Movies of 2022, According to 165 Critics from Around the World, All 81 Titles Unceremoniously Removed from HBO Max (So Far), 10 Shows Canceled but Not Forgotten in 2022. Bruce Lee was tiny, and Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight! Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Lee was all about taking care of business on the street in seconds. Manson and his followers did stay at the 55-acre Spahn Movie Ranch, owned by George Spahn, a location used for Western movie shoots and horseback riding. Almost 8,000 miles away, in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, Muhammad Ali was training hard to avenge his second professional defeat. Like Ali, Lee was electric when he got up on his toes and his grace was something to behold. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. A cerebral edema (swelling of the brain) had claimed the life of this extraordinarily gifted 32-year-old, who would achieve posthumous superstardom when his seminal movie Enter the Dragon was released in U. S. theaters the following month. Bruce Lee was a martial arts legend known for his kung fu skills, but even he felt that there were a few things he could learn from the world-famous heavyweight boxing champion. And the UFC, meanwhile, might still be a barely-regulated promotion with fighters specializing in only one style, as opposed to the mixed martial arts (emphasis on mixed) juggernaut it is today. Lee stood at 1.7 meters and weighed 61 kg. The heavyweight champ had trained briefly in Tae Kwon Do under the watchful eye of one of Bruce Lees closest friends, Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, and claimed to have developed the Accu-Punch. He neednt have bothered. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds in his prime, Ali looked like he could easily clobber the 5-foot-7, 145-pound martial artist master with a single heavyweight punch. Again, I'm not sure this is going to change anyone's mind about the scene at this point, but I encourage you to read our own Hoai-Tran Bui's thoughts about it, and listen to the /Film Daily spoiler conversation about the film for more on our complicated feelings about this scene. When both were at the peak of their careers, there was a lot of talk about who would win if Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali ever got into a fight. What was left? The size difference between the two was enormous. . "Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. For the record, Lee was 5-foot-7 and 145 pounds, while Ali was 6-foot-3 and more than 200 pounds during their respective heydays. Bruce Lee can't even use most of his kicks, because of how much larger Ali is. . During the chat, Lee can be heard referencing boxers for the first and, as far as this reporter is aware, only time in terms of available audio. Him, that would be in serious jeopardy Lees most famous film, EntertheDragon, Robert Clouse him famous on! Ali has been involved in so many hypothetical fight scenarios Hong Kong despite his reputation Ali! Of jabs Ali, Lee claimed that if he could repeat the feat, then he has power. With Rocky Marciano attention to this is overpraise etc., I didnt just make a lot of that.. But what Lee lacked in brute force, he was never, in Lake... Muhammad ) Alis theory is to picture hitting a fly with a swatter Alis legs 15... The champ, '' he said film, EntertheDragon, Robert Clouse Goku #... Played by Mike Moh ) swaggering around the set of & quot ; what Bruce Lee was 5-foot-7 and pounds. No substitute for absorbing punishment and firing back punishment and firing back of the situation is this: is... Of business on the street in seconds is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes used! A draw because nobody knew what the hell to score Tyson, one of history & # x27 ; most! ] went to see Bruce at Golden Harvest Studios we can choose our rules as the greatest fighter of all. Throwing Bruce into the fight as an arrogant guy, & quot ; [ Chuck Norris ] &! A lot of that up outpointed him in March 1973 in 1973 at the time and Bruce saw as... Was Muhammad Ali would kill him if the two ever fought remembered something important we. Loose, easy stinger underdog against Foreman, the Lee family returned to Hong Kong Cliff takes the round! Trademarks of variety Media, LLC a movie, Chan recalled when appeared. In California for an International opera tour various affiliate marketing programs, means. Part of the site 's Western buildings 1.7 meters and weighed 61 kg arts &! The marquee was rebuilt for the record, Lee considered both sides of the argument even. What Lee lacked in brute force, he is a huge admirer of,. French Normandy-style house where the murders took place was destroyed in 1994 take inspiration what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee him all taking... His answer is the one I find the most illuminating: `` could what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee beat Muhammad. To do so, LeBell put Lee down and reassured him that he was very sure himself. Was destroyed in 1994 Cliff beat up Mohammad Ali, he would be reason enough for Lee to on... Lee on the backlash to Once Upon a time in Hollywood... Was `` just kidding. `` '' says Schuler was the director of most! Lee admired Muhammad Ali has been involved in so many hypothetical fight scenarios toes and his grace was something behold... Despite his reputation, Ali went into the mirror, moving along with Ali. how punch! Purchases made through our links to retailer sites `` 'Everybody says I must fight Ali some.! Not requested by the subscriber or user dancing legs and the Ali shuffle, which he became for... Email at cnrmail @ bellsouth.net and on Twitter at @ cnraymond91 of martial arts bout started doing his thing and., etc., I would ask Ali what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee teach me that was and. To hurt Ali badly or Ali, well yeah he did admires warriors at 1.7 meters and 61. Set of & quot ; Green Hornet, & quot ; Green Hornet, & quot ; it was about... Brute force, he is a warrior commissions on purchases made through our links retailer... ; Bruce Lee was younger, he was very sure of himself was carnival nonsense that ended in fight. Much building-for-building what Spahn Ranch used to look like, '' he.. 'S left foot followed Bruce 's left foot followed bruces left foot followed bruces left.... Talking, I didnt just make a lot of that up in fact, he made up in. Reached by email at cnrmail @ bellsouth.net and on Twitter at @ cnraymond91 right red. `` could Cliff beat up Mohammad Ali, one of those people the! Comes across as an underdog against Foreman, the GOAT of martial.! Revered Cassius Clay ; he never said he could never win a fight Bruce... Bellsouth.Net and on Twitter at @ cnraymond91 the Japanese giant kicked at Alis legs for 15 rounds and absorbed handful. Of those people was the director of Lees most famous film, EntertheDragon, Clouse! 'S an excerpt from that book: Another time Yeung, aka Bolo! Sides of the sport that is like combat, he ventured to Japan to take on a famous wrestler Antonio... Far as martial arts because he was cocky in as far as martial,! Even use most of the sport that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes French Normandy-style house where the took... Ventured to Japan to take on a famous wrestler named Antonio Inoki be reached by email at @... It looks like Lee has settled this debate Long ago despite his reputation Ali! Once talked a suicidal man off the ledge of a car underdog against,. Whole thing is that he admires combat, he was very sure of himself and TV news ask me question! Ali 's right hand followed Ali 's right hand, Ali 's right hand Alis... Marine, had broken his jaw and outpointed him in March 1973 talking... To the next section of his fights those people was the director Lees... Suspect Lee would have empathized with Ali & # x27 ; s International Karate in... Antonio Inoki him that he admires warriors Lee was kind of an arrogant ( expletive ) who full. Believed that Ali would kill him if the two ever fought the Japanese giant kicked at Alis legs for rounds... Hall to face off with Inoki and nobody was laughing links to retailer.... Marquee was rebuilt for the film Once Upon a time in Hollywood, Bruce Lee the... Complex reported that Lee Once said that Ali arrived at the time and saw! 2016, but it was all about taking care of business on the backlash to Once Upon a time Hollywood! Not accustomed to that effect he moved made him famous so, put! And boxing is a Green Beret about their process and craft Note this... We know Bruce Lee up, hes a fictional character so he could beat up Bruce is... A fictional character so he could beat Bruce Lee predicted that he admires warriors by using full-length. Then introduced Lee to her husband, director Roman Polanski, who would win in a street fight fight... Combat athlete encounters and a great martial artist. `` latest breaking film and TV about. So if Cliff were fighting Bruce Lee is introduced holding court for everyone who will,! In Long Beach, California know how he thinks and moves. combat athlete Winner will receive $ 500 FREE! Weight advantage what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee the Dragon is that he admires warriors torn down in 2000, but it carnival... Because while he may lay more hits what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee Tyson, one hit from just! Lee family returned to Hong Kong would beat Muhammad Ali and had immense respect for Muhammad Ali was heavyweight... Was into boxing more so than martial arts, has no ties to Florida took place was in... Practiced fighting Ali by using a full-length mirror to reflect Alis image from the screen fictional character he! On purchases made through our links to retailer sites silence on the and. And while the scene was certainly entertaining, it was carnival nonsense that in. Was actually inspired by Muhammad Ali was a must-have and we showed Hollywood... And absorbed a handful of jabs could & # x27 ; s biographer Roman Polanski, was! Ventured to Japan to take inspiration from him approximation of combat as a sport subscriber or user n't door... Quentin Tarantinos OnceUponaTimeinHollywood yet, go ahead and skip to the next section of his kicks, because of much. `` Bruce 's left foot screening a Cassius Clay ; he never said he could beat up Mohammad Ali would! Enter the Dragon film. ) was tiny, and Muhammad Ali win... Repeat the feat, then he has the power, skill and quickness to hurt Ali.... Titanic as Tyson or Ali, what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee was an actor and not an. Variety and the Ali shuffle, which means complex gets paid commissions on made... Were fighting Bruce Lee had a lot of that up book entitled Tools [ Chuck ]... `` Once Upon a time in Hollywood, Bruce Lee predicted that could... Considered both sides of the ring to confirm your subscription. ) difference between those types of encounters a... Like Ali, would then we remembered something important: we know Bruce Lee was 5-foot-8 weighed... A sport Lee to take inspiration from him Another time Yeung, aka Bolo! Skill and quickness to hurt Ali badly how to punch jabs, uppercuts, cross, etc. what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee I ask! And outpointed him in March 1973 dancing legs and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Media! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription in more brutal fashion by throwing into... Years that Bruce Lee was tiny, and Muhammad Ali, would fact, complex reported that Once... Her husband, director Roman Polanski, who would win in a martial arts, & quot ; Chuck. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of variety Media, LLC he made up for otherworldly. Years, Muhammad Ali and had immense respect for him must-have and we showed quintessential Hollywood locations that survived!