By ABC NEWS. 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. At that time, many people were wondering what would happen if Ali crossed paths with Lee. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. 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." What was left? Bruce Lee was tiny, and Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight! One punch from Ali could potentially break his neck and no rational person would claim otherwise. In Jeet Kune Do, translated from Cantonese as Way of the Intercepting Fist, an individual would use what worked best for them in terms of their size and stature. While filming a movie, Chan recalled when Lee appeared and started doing his thing. "After a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Muhammad Ali has passed away at the age of 74. His favorite actors are Tyrone Power and Eleanor Parker. Did Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee ever meet? The conversation on who would win in a fight between Ali and Mike Tyson is an argument that will likely never end. Lee actually incorporated Alis footwork into his own fighting style. OP did say he based this on the Superman vs Muhammad Ali comic. If you're a fan of 1960s pop culture, Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a must-watch. Speaking to Lee on the set of the 1973 film Enter the Dragon, director Robert Clause recalls the actor stating, "Everybody says . Ali changed what he called his "slave name" to his new Muslim name in 1964. "From my point of view, the 20th century gave us just two icons who rose above time, space and race: There was Muhammad Ali, and there was Bruce Lee," says documentary filmmaker Pete McCormack . Prior to the bout, a ludicrous set of rules were put in place that prevented Inoki from attempting takedowns, submissions or kicks above the waist. Sure, it's technically possible that Lee once claimed he could beat up Muhammad Ali, but an excerpt from the 1987 bookThe Making of Enter the Dragonsays otherwise. He is a killer. Ali probably never heard of Lee during Lee's lifetime. Martial arts icon Bruce Lee admitted that the legendary Muhammad Ali would have 'killed him' in a crossover fight, according to Robert Clouse. Why? Tarantino might be trying to make a point about how Lee was stereotyped, "but it doesnt come across that way," Shannon Lee said. Bob Greenwade said. Join our newsletter to get info about latest events and deals! 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. Ali was about 6-foot 3-inches tall and, since he was a heavyweight, he weighed well over 200-pounds in his career. Throughout the years, Muhammad Ali has been involved in so many hypothetical fight scenarios. He takes to hunting, cooking and fathering more children, but is haunted by . One of those people was the director of Lees most famous film, EntertheDragon, Robert Clouse. Inosanto said, He was never, in my opinion, cocky. The one thing that cannot be ignored in all this is that Lee was not a professional fighter. At that time, there were many people who debated about what would happen if Ali crossed paths with Lee. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. "Bruce revered Cassius Clay; he never claimed he could beat the champ," says Polly. Ali has the height, weight, and reach advantage over Lee, but Lee has an ace up his sleeve. Tyson made his professional boxing debut in 1985, while Ali fought his last professional fight in 1981. 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. At the young age of 22, Ali became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. Lee was referring to Alis dancing legs and the Ali shuffle, which he became known for in the ring. But on a set, hes not gonna show off. He added, Bruce Lee would have never said anything derogatory about Muhammad Ali because he worshiped the ground Muhammad Ali walked on., Shannon told Variety, He was continuously marginalized and treated like kind of a nuisance of a human being by white Hollywood, which is how hes treated in the film by Quentin Tarantino.. One of the two doesnt need the other to be great. He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," Bob Gunnell . If were talking about potential, then there is no doubt that Lee could have been a magnificent professional fighter. Almost 8,000 miles away, in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, Muhammad Ali was training hard to avenge his second professional defeat. Providing the egos didnt clash, this would have been a match made in heaven. But the next section of his answer is the one I find the most illuminating: "Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? But this doesnt mean the name "Bruce Lee" needs the name "Muhammad Ali" to be great. One of the biggest points of controversy surrounding the film is the scene in which Bruce Lee (Mike Moh) and Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) fight each other on the set of The Green Hornet. Bruce Lees daughter, Shannon, condemned Tarantino for portraying the martial arts legend as an arrogant asshole who was full of hot air, while Lees protg Dan Inosanto said the film did not accurately portray the late action star. 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood': What's truth, what's pulp fiction? Quentin Tarantino broke his silence on the backlash to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood during the films recent Moscow press conference. "[Chuck Norris] could'. 'Look at my hand,' he said. Alright? The real Lee was a big fan of boxing and "worshipped" Ali. Tarantino takes liberties in depicting the actions of the Manson followers (which we will not spoil). After watching a lot of Alis fights, Bruce Lee actually admitted that he would lose to Ali if they ever came to blows [via Complex]. "Not only did he say that, but his wife, Linda Lee, said that in her first biography I ever read. If Lee can use legs, then he has the power, skill and quickness to hurt Ali badly. According to The Things, the incident made him realize that the martial art he created, Jeet Kune Do, had some flaws to it, such as the fact he hadn't integrated any grappling moves into the fighting style. Search. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. In a straight boxing match, Lee, a 5-foot-7 lightweight, or junior welterweight at best, would have no chance. As two of the biggest icons of their time and with both being associated with fighting, one in the ring and one on the big screen, the conversation on who wins a dream fight between Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee was a common one back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, a conversation thats still had today. Lee's global popularity is matched by only one other person, Inosanto says. Profile. Ali was later hospitalized with blood clots. Even so, Mass Appeal points out that in his 1989 bookThe Making of Enter the Dragon, directorRobert Clouse revealed that mere sight of The Greatest made Lees blood run cold: Another time Yeung, aka (Bolo) went to see Bruce at Golden Harvest Studios. It also has a soundtrack packed with decade-appropriate big hits and deep cuts, with none of those present-day covers designed to make old music sound hip and modern to younger listeners. . Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. 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. Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? Because he was a brilliant and seasoned professional who took hits for a living. Offline. When Bruce Lee was younger, he predicted Muhammad Ali would kill him. And there you have it. Watch Lee in any of his movies and youll get frequent glimpses of swift lateral movement. That logic echoes what I personally believe to be the point of including Lee in this film at all: what stunt coordinator Robert Alonzo described asthe purpose of the scene, which was to "explain to the audience the level at which Cliff was [operating]." For Lee to reference Ali in these unique writings speaks volumes about his appreciation of the eventual three-time heavyweight champion. And it was apparently a conversation that Lee himself had with one of his directors. A number of people vehemently deny that, and if you're one of them, consider the following: Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing, GET THE LATEST ISSUE AT If you ask me the question, Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee or Dracula? Its the same question. Tate then introduced Lee to her husband, director Roman Polanski, who trained with him as well. Bruce set up a wide full-length. In these 1967 bouts, the now-famous Lee uses the techniques of Jeet . Bruce Lee was tiny, and Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight! They broke into the home and committed the grisly ritualistic killings after midnight (Steve Parent, a fifth victim, isn't depicted in the film). ET and will be broadcast in the U.K. on BT Sport 2 tomorrow (June 8) at 9.00 p.m. Tom Gray is Associate Editor for Ring Magazine. Lee was a smaller man, as he was about 5-foot 7-inches tall and about 140-pounds. Bruces right hand followed Alis right hand, Alis left foot followed Bruces left foot. 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. Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali never fought inside the squared circle. But despite how things came off in OnceUponaTimeinHollywood, the man born Lee Jun-fan didnt think he stood a chance against the man formerly known as Cassius Clay. Bruce Lee did say that, he meant in a boxing match. In his later fights, Ali weighed in at about 230-pounds. However, much of the setup is accurate. "If people are saying, 'Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali,' well yeah, he did,"the director continued, via Deadline. Tarantino featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the film. With that in mind, Lee started training with LeBell as both men developed a friendship that would last until Lee's death in 1973. "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" is writer/director Quentin Tarantino's love letter to 1960s Hollywood, revolving around fictional fading star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his faithful stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. 3. A sidekick to the knee is longer than any punch you care to mention and a boxer has no way of defending against it. Chris said of Will: "He played Muhammad Ali! Ali could do things that Lee couldnt, and vica verca. Your destination for the best boxing news, videos and live streams! That didnt come from nowhere. He has killed many men in WWII in hand to hand combat. (pg. All Rights Reserved. Everybody says I must fight Ali some day, Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. Bruce Lee admired Muhammad Ali and had immense respect for him. I mean, no finesse.. He'd kill me.". Cadwell found the depiction to be "just . Did Bruce Lee stand a chance against Cassius Clay? Lee passed away in 1973 at the age of 32 from cerebral edema, which could have been caused by a reaction to prescription painkillers. She absolutely said that, the director continued. Bruce was looking into the mirror, alongside Ali. "Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Lee's daughter, Shannon, objected to her father's portrayal. Bruce's right hand followed Ali's right hand, Ali's left foot followed Bruce's left foot. 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. He'd kill me.'". Everybody says I must fight Ali some day. Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Bruce Lee, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino. Another time Yeung, aka [Bolo] went to see Bruce at Golden Harvest Studios. 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. YOU GET TO CHOOSE your own prize! Like Ali, Lee was electric when he got up on his toes and his grace was something to behold. 1,386 663. There's a glimpse of the marquee from former adult film venue The Pussycat Theater, across from Musso & Frank's. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. 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 . If people are saying, Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali, well yeah, he did. (The Pussycat was torn down in 2000, but the marquee was rebuilt for the film.). Kirik Jenness Apr 28, 2022 Well, the problem with (them) is that they are the John L. Sullivans of the feet. So just what is real in "Hollywood"? Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Bruce Lee's father Lee Hoi-chuen was a famous Cantonese opera singer based in Hong Kong. Bruce Lee's exact age would be 81 years 5 months 15 days old if alive. Things change dramatically in a mixed martial arts bout. It makes perfect sense for Bruce Lee to think that he could learn something from Ali, even though their fighting styles were inherently different. The great boxer Muhammad Ali was still using his given name, Cassius Clay when, in 1961 at the age of 19 years old, he posed for some unusual photographs in a Miami swimming pool. 88) (3/11), Matthew Polly (@MatthewEPolly) August 12, 2019. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. 25 Things You Didnt Know About Muhammad Ali, Ali's funeral in Louisville, Ky. on Friday. Muhammad Ali would win, because Bruce Lee was an actor and not actually an athlete. Has an ace up his sleeve are Tyrone Power and Eleanor Parker ; worshipped & ;. 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