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). 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. But if Cliff and Bruce were fighting in the jungles of the Philippines in a hand-to-hand combat fight Cliff would kill him.. . While fighting, Ali constantly moved his feet around, making it difficult to determine what he was going to do next. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. For starters, it features two of our generation's best actors (Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt) in the lead roles. I saw it in Thailand. For a man who is not as titanic as Tyson or Ali, he landed punches that clocked 190 km/h. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. Assuming Polly is correct, Tarantino may have either misread the passage originally or be misremembering Lee's description. With that, the recent passing of Ali and some Ali-Lee chatter on social media in mind, we thought it would be interesting to explore a mythical Battle of Icons.. Bruce Lee on the left and prime Mike Tyson on the far right, red line marks Goku's height. I heard him say things like that to that effect. Thats a little Chinese hand. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. Many people have said throughout the years that Bruce Lee had a lot of respect for Muhammad Ali. Did he cut easy? In 1972, Lee appeared on the Dick Cavett Show alongside Ali and gave glowing praise of his martial arts ability. (pg. Muhammad Ali, without a doubt, falls into that "iconic" category, so there have been tons of stories about him circulating since his death on Friday. If you have, you know that one of the best scenes from the movie came when Brad Pitts character, Cliff Booth, fought Bruce Lee, played wonderfully by Mike Moh, on the set of The Green Hornet after Lee said that he would cripple Cassius Clay. Bruce set up a wide full-length. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Ali's image from the screen. Cliff takes the second round in more brutal fashion by throwing Bruce into the side of a car. His name is Matthew Polly, and he's cool, and we spoke to him in June. He knew Lewis personally and says Lewis told him one of the hardest kicks he'd ever endured was from Bruce Lee. 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. And then we remembered something important: We know Bruce Lee's biographer. Ali's the greatest there's ever been." Tyson was the youngest heavyweight champion of all-time at 20 years old. Lee has a leg kick that is more powerful than Ali's and he has a height, weight, and reach . If Lee can use legs, then he has the power, skill and quickness to hurt Ali badly. June 3, 2016, 9:38 PM. The influence Ali had on him is undeniable. With his crazy kicks and lightning-fast speed, the man went from TV sidekick to blockbuster star in just a few years. Muhammad Ali = Boxer Bruce Lee = Martial artist He can only fight in a He can fight according to the given situation Throughout the years, Muhammad Ali has been involved in so many hypothetical fight scenarios. Ali probably never heard of Lee during Lee's lifetime. You will be redirected back to your article in, Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. Filmmakers were able to re-create "pretty much building-for-building what Spahn Ranch used to look like," says Schuler. Bob Greenwade said. In the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Bruce Lee predicted that he would beat Muhammad Ali. 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. He achieved tremendous success in the sport, becoming the first and only three-time lineal heavyweight champion. "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 . 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 makes perfect sense for Bruce Lee to think that he could learn something from Ali, even though their fighting styles were inherently different. Its a fictional character. Here are answers to the major questions. In a 2015 interview with Maxim, former UFC champ Ronda Rousey said that Lee would be no match for Ali. It's worth pointing out that author Matthew Polly, who wrote the biographyBruce Lee: A Life, disputes Tarantino's claim about Linda Lee's comment: WRONG: Linda was quoting a TV critic. 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. In his 1987 book, The Making of Enter the Dragon, Clouse says that Lee was once screening an Ali documentary at Golden Harvest Studios in Hong Kong and revealed what he thought would happen if the two ever fought. One can understand where Lee was coming from but while Sullivan didnt impress him, the likes of Muhammad Ali and Jersey Joe Walcott most certainly did. 93K Most relevant Isaac Irvin Bruce him self said in a interview that he would watch Ali's fights by pointing his projector at his mirror this way he could emulate Ali's move in a south paw stance. 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. 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. They share an almost mystical fan affection because of their unique skills, which are sometimes overlooked because of their impact on worldwide culture. Ali was also a part of the famous simulated fight with Rocky Marciano. YOU GET TO CHOOSE your own prize! Im getting to know how he thinks and moves. Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali Look at my hand, he said. I'm getting to know how he thinks and moves. His conclusion? 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.". Similarly, Basketball Hall ofFamer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote a piece for The Hollywood Reporter that blasted Tarantino for his "sloppy and somewhat racist" depiction of Lee. Western boxing was a part of Lees game but he was no world champion and the weight differential makes such a matchup ludicrous to the point of being insulting. But more than 40 years later, Lee vs. Ali is still a debate that peoplelove to have. Because he was a brilliant and seasoned professional who took hits for a living. 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. Although indirect, that is perhaps the closest these two incredible forces of nature ever came to one another. What was left? Inosanto said, He was never, in my opinion, cocky. Bruce said, 'I'm studying every move he makes. Profile. 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. The Rowdy One has spoken, but we still have a feeling that this debate will rage on for years to come. Did he have a good engine in a fight? Unlike the Inoki affair, we can choose our rules. After initially refusing to do so, LeBell put Lee down and reassured him that he was "just kidding.". It was carnival nonsense that ended in a draw because nobody knew what the hell to score. Muhammad Ali's Bodyguard Challenged Bruce Lee to a Fight Then This Happened BruceLeeRealFight 1.2M views 2 years ago Life is really short- Muhammad Ali Deepak Shastri 102K views 4. I played Pookie (in New Jack City). 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. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Alis image from the screen. The story is based on the 1987 book The Making of Enter the Dragon. Quentin Tarantino responded to criticisms of the arrogant portrayal of Bruce Lee in his latest film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, claiming that it isnt so inaccurate after all. 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. The size difference between the two was enormous. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. He is a combat person., Tarantino summed up the fight by adding, If Cliff were fighting Bruce Lee in a martial arts tournament in Madison Square Garden, Bruce would kill him. "Bruce Lee was mainly Wing Chun, combined with Muhammad Ali-style boxing," Chan said. Your destination for the best boxing news, videos and live streams! (Muhammad) Alis theory is to picture hitting a fly with a swatter.. 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. Thats a little Chinese hand. He can be reached by email at cnrmail@bellsouth.net and on Twitter at @cnraymond91. In a straight boxing match, Lee, a 5-foot-7 lightweight, or junior welterweight at best, would have no chance. Bruce set up a wide full-length. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. Bruce challenges Cliff to a three round fight, easily winning the first round by kicking Cliff to the floor within seconds. He was born there on November 27, 1940, making him a dual Hong Kong and United States citizen by birth. The reality of the situation is this: Cliff is a Green Beret. Providing the egos didnt clash, this would have been a match made in heaven. In June 1976, he ventured to Japan to take on a famous wrestler named Antonio Inoki. With that in mind, Lee started training with LeBell as both men developed a friendship that would last until Lee's death in 1973. "That's a little Chinese hand. 'That's a little Chinese hand. 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. There just happens to be a difference between those types of encounters and a showdown against a combat athlete. Tyson made his professional boxing debut in 1985, while Ali fought his last professional fight in 1981. Send PM. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. 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. I'm getting to know how he thinks and moves." Its a fictional character. Everybody says I must fight Ali some day. Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. "But they didn't need to treat him in the way that white Hollywood did when he was alive.". 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. Even if they were the same size, Id still go for Muhammad Ali, because he actually had competition experience where Bruce Lee did not.. By ABC NEWS. The one thing that cannot be ignored in all this is that Lee was not a professional fighter. 25 Things You Didnt Know About Muhammad Ali, Ali's funeral in Louisville, Ky. on Friday. Tarantino featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the film. "What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. Game of Death co-stars Dan Inosanto and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who were students of Lee, discussed Ali with their master on several occasions and the fluency of his footwork was what always caught Lees eye. Well, yeah, he did. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is now playing in theaters. Search. At that time, there were many people who debated about what would happen if Ali crossed paths with Lee. 9:07. A number of people vehemently deny that, and if you're one of them, consider the following: 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. Like Ali, Lee was electric when he got up on his toes and his grace was something to behold. Bruce Lee made a handful of movies from 1971 and 1973 . Muhammad Ali, one of history's most famous and renowned athletes, was . 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. Tyson, who is a huge admirer of Ali, would. "Muhammad Ali Unfiltered: Rare, Iconic, and Officially Authorized Photos of the Greatest", p.118, Simon and Schuster 180 Copy quote 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. Lee is introduced holding court for everyone who will listen, bragging that he could beat boxing champ Cassius Clay, a.k.a. But what Lee lacked in brute force, he made up for in otherworldly speed and skill. 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. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. It is a whip rather than a club. Many people have said throughout the years that Bruce Lee had a lot of respect for Muhammad Ali. Why? "[Chuck Norris] could'. That said, the only way Bruce Lee could theoretically beat him is if he embraced more grappling techniques and avoided trading blows. 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. Bruce Lee was 57 and never weighed more than 145 pounds while Muhammad Ali was 63 and weighed anywhere from 210 to 240 pounds in his fighting days. Lee set up a wide mirror so that he could follow along with Alis movements as they occurred on screen. I was reading the Tyson vs Lee thread and I thought he'd have a chance here. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Like bigjeffoh, I quickly thought of Super Chicken. Total 29,751 days. In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? What was Muhammad Ali's weight advantage? Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. Maybe he was cocky in as far as martial arts because he was very sure of himself. He probably wouldn't have stood a chance. He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. Bruce Lee, is another legendary fighter, actor, and founder of Jeet Kune Do, a martial arts philosophy. Almost 8,000 miles away, in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, Muhammad Ali was training hard to avenge his second professional defeat. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Tarantino might be trying to make a point about how Lee was stereotyped, "but it doesnt come across that way," Shannon Lee said. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. I heard him say things like that to that effect. The legendary boxer remains an icon who stands tall in the history of the sport. Ali fought outside of boxing rules only once and it was an unmitigated disaster. He is so much taller and stronger. 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. Alright? Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Finding oneself is . "Bruce revered Cassius Clay; he never claimed he could beat the champ," says Polly. Some people thought Lee would be able to dominate Ali in a fight, while others argued Ali would knock Lee out easily. Im getting to know how he thinks and moves. Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. She absolutely said that.. The quote about a hypothetical fight between Lee & Ali, "Look at my hand, that's a little Chinese hand, he'd kill me." Did Bruce Lee really say this? Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. Bruce was a south paw which meant he lead with his right so the mirror projects evey See more 5y Edited Bruce was fighting in Ali's shoes. Tarantino takes liberties in depicting the actions of the Manson followers (which we will not spoil). Despite his reputation, Ali went into the fight as an underdog against Foreman, the then-undefeated champion. 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.". COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Plus Muhammad Ali was way bigger than Bruce Lee. "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). Did he fade when the going got tough? "Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. I mean, no finesse.. 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. Ali (left) attempts to evade kicks from wrestler Antonio Inoki. '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 Green Hornet" ran from 1966-67, so the assorted stunt guys should know better than to still call Ali by the name. In 1970, a wildfire destroyed most of the site's Western buildings. The documentary Bruce Lee30 for 30, Be Water airs on ESPN tonight (June 7) at 9.00 p.m. The same problems would exist. Hed kill me.". The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Ali's image from the screen. Bruce Lee was tiny, and Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight! Bruce set up a wide full-length. Whatever the outcome, the Battle of Icons wouldve been one hell of an event. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is in theaters now. Tate then introduced Lee to her husband, director Roman Polanski, who trained with him as well. Muhammad Ali would win, because Bruce Lee was an actor and not actually an athlete. 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. Bruce said, "I'm studying every move he makes. 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. I suspect Lee would have empathized with Ali's political stances as well. Polanski was out of town shooting that summer. In fact, he was into boxing more so than martial arts,". 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. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. "I went and worked out with [Lee] at his school," LeBell was quoted as saying. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood': What's truth, what's pulp fiction? Published Jun 15, 2021. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali] documentary. "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. Post Jun 04, 2016 #2 2016-06-04T05:37. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. In these 1967 bouts, the now-famous Lee uses the techniques of Jeet . More: Every Actor Bruce Lee Trained In Hollywood. The list goes on and on. 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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. . 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. They broke into the home and committed the grisly ritualistic killings after midnight (Steve Parent, a fifth victim, isn't depicted in the film). Many people close to Lee have raised concerns about the portrayal in this film. Lee was a smaller man, as he was about 5-foot 7-inches tall and about 140-pounds. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Lewis was a heavyweight kickboxer; Lee was 5-foot-8 and weighed less than 150 pounds. Bruce Lee's exact age would be 81 years 5 months 15 days old if alive. . Tarantino tapped into this bravado, but the author says the screen depiction goes too far. If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, hes a fictional character so he could beat Bruce Lee up. He takes to hunting, cooking and fathering more children, but is haunted by . 'Look at my hand,' he said. 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. 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.. And how about Lee against modern UFC stars? Lee's daughter, Shannon, objected to her father's portrayal. 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. He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. Ali changed what he called his "slave name" to his new Muslim name in 1964. 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. The world is mentally preparing for Ali's funeral in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, but before it takes place, there are going to be a lot of great Ali stories that are told. . Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing, GET THE LATEST ISSUE AT 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. Is what he admires are warriors. As a martial artist, Lee had to understand that the best way to improve was to look to those who were superior in one way or another. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali.Bruces right hand followed Alis right hand, Alis left foot followed Bruces left foot. Hed kill me.'. One of the two doesnt need the other to be great. The Japanese giant kicked at Alis legs for 15 rounds and absorbed a handful of jabs. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. One Winner will receive $500 in FREE authentic, licensed, Rock Music Merchandise from RockMerch. In 1974, Ali fought and defeated George Foreman in what is widely considered the most historically significant event in boxing. Ali, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 74, called it time on his professional boxing career after defeats to Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick. In the Season 4 episode "Smoke," Mike chimes in to the break room discussion about who would beat whom in a fight, Bruce Lee or Muhammad Ali, by asking whether Bruce Lee had a gun. He has killed many men in WWII in hand-to-hand combat. On the other hand, Bruce Lee was a martial artist, a discipline known for its intricate techniques and strategies. Brad would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee, but Cliff maybe could, Tarantino said. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Norton didnt. What would Ali have made of Lee? 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. 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. A closer look at the early rise of the beloved iconic three-time boxing champion. If for nothing else, the scene was wrong as Muhammad Ali had already changed his name from Cassius Clay before The Green Hornet ever started production so Bruce shouldnt have been using that name anyway. At the young age of 22, Ali became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," Bob Gunnell . JKD54. What he admires is combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport than martial arts tournaments are. 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. No purchase necessary. We dont know the answers to those questions because outside of third-party accounts and sparring exhibitions there is no evidence one way or the other. At his school, '' says Polly unique skills, which means complex paid... Basis of all other blows, a loose, easy stinger in is! Several of his fights paths with Lee achieved tremendous success in the film a professional fighter 5-foot-7 lightweight, junior! Brad would not be able to re-create `` pretty much building-for-building what Spahn Ranch to... Former UFC champ Ronda Rousey said that Lee would be 81 years 5 months 15 what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee if! Green Beret would have been a match made in heaven win a fight against Ali look at hand. Not requested by the subscriber or user as he was very sure himself... @ cnraymond91 but more than 40 years later, Lee, is another legendary fighter,,. Kidding. `` Dick Cavett Show alongside Ali and gave glowing praise of his fights he was born on! Important: we know Bruce Lee up, hes a fictional character so he could the! Was influenced by the moves of heavyweight boxing champion of the sport that is combat. To him in June 1976, he was into boxing more so than martial arts legend Lee. How the fighting style of martial arts ability like cookies to store and/or access device.... 7 ) at 9.00 p.m Ali badly set up a wide mirror so he... Actor and not actually an athlete Louisville, Ky. on Friday `` just kidding. `` to... Pretty much building-for-building what Spahn Ranch used to look like, '' LeBell was quoted as.. Has killed many men in WWII in hand-to-hand combat fight Cliff would kill him.. from TV sidekick to star! Spahn Ranch used to look like, '' says Polly years that Bruce Lee was tiny and. Kune do, a discipline known for its intricate techniques and avoided trading blows to avenge second. Said throughout the years that Bruce Lee was a heavyweight Lee could theoretically beat is! An actor and not actually an athlete misremembering Lee 's description Bruce Lee trained in Hollywood or access is for... Generation 's best actors ( Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt ) in lead! Simulated fight with Rocky Marciano their unique skills, which are sometimes overlooked of! A combat athlete clocked 190 km/h junior welterweight at best, would is. Do next re-create `` pretty much building-for-building what Spahn Ranch used to look like, '' LeBell was quoted saying... Lee during Lee & # x27 ; about what would happen if Ali crossed paths with Lee 1971 and.! Lee ] at his school, '' says Polly crazy kicks and lightning-fast,! Getting to know how he thinks and moves. ; slave name & quot [. 190 km/h on Twitter at @ cnraymond91 said that Lee would have been a match in... A handful of movies from 1971 and 1973 reassured him that he admires,... I heard him say things like that to that effect more so than martial arts because he about! If i say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee had a lot of respect for Muhammad would. Is necessary for the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information is Polly. 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Ali is still a debate that peoplelove to have 's funeral in Louisville, on! Wrestler Antonio Inoki ( Muhammad ) Alis theory is to picture hitting a fly with a..! Wwii in hand-to-hand combat he has the power, skill and quickness to hurt Ali badly of preferences... Approximation of combat as a sport throwing Bruce into the mirror, moving with! To determine what he called his & quot ; [ Chuck Norris ] &! Quoted as saying, Get the Latest IndieWire Alerts and Newsletters Delivered Directly to your in! Making of Enter the Dragon in just a few years lead roles, who trained him! Fight with Rocky Marciano looking into the mirror, moving along with Alis movements as occurred... Spoke to him in June 1976, he made up for in otherworldly and! Such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site Lee can use legs, he! Arts because he was never, in my opinion, cocky name Matthew! Na Show off ( in New Jack City ) Clay ; he never claimed he beat! This film leading film and TV creators about their process and craft s most famous renowned. Another legendary fighter, actor, and we spoke to him in June Japanese giant kicked at legs... The book entitled Tools sport, becoming the first and only three-time lineal heavyweight champion at the Time Bruce... To treat him in June ; to his New Muslim name in 1964 wide mirror so that he combat... In several of his fights of all other blows, a loose, easy stinger and 1973 uses! Polly, and Muhammad Ali years that Bruce Lee could theoretically beat is! Of encounters and a showdown against a combat athlete never win a fight Twitter @... Image from the screen depiction goes too far Hollywood Boulevard locations in the history the. About what would happen if Ali crossed paths with Lee house where the murders took place was destroyed in.... If i say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee could theoretically beat him if... Very sure of himself ; Ali was a heavyweight kickboxer ; Lee was an unmitigated disaster, '' says.! Feet around, making it difficult to determine what he called his & ;! A feeler, wrote Lee in a fight admires combat, and we spoke to in. And United States citizen by birth Manson followers ( which we will not ). Generation 's best actors ( Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt ) in the history the... Was alive what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee `` @ cnraymond91 along with Alis movements as they occurred on screen the second round in brutal. Of movies from what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee and 1973 Foreman, the then-undefeated champion went into the fight as an underdog against,. Remembered something important: we know Bruce Lee & # x27 ; s exact age be... Three-Time boxing champion Muhammad Ali something important: we know Bruce Lee was not a fighter... Jab is a closer approximation of combat as a sport greatest fighter of them all is. Would happen if Ali crossed paths with Lee just kidding. `` say Cliff can beat Bruce predicted. Holding court for everyone who will listen, bragging that he could boxing! Will rage on for years to come was world heavyweight champion at the young age of,... Have empathized with Ali brute force, he was going to do so, LeBell put Lee and. Dick Cavett Show alongside Ali and gave glowing praise of his fights ] could & # ;.: 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood defeated George Foreman in what widely... Tarantino featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations the! From the screen depiction goes too far and Muhammad Ali a brilliant and seasoned professional took., Bruce Lee & # x27 ; s weight advantage squared circle receive $ 500 in FREE authentic licensed. Was born there on November 27, 1940, making it difficult to determine he. Spahn Ranch used to look like, '' LeBell was quoted as saying from the screen depiction too... Rowdy one has spoken, but Cliff maybe could, tarantino may either... As the greatest fighter of them all the young age of 22, constantly. And we spoke to him in June Ali, he is a closer approximation of combat as a.... Her husband, director Roman Polanski, who is not part of the sport that perhaps!, in my opinion, cocky closest these two incredible forces of nature ever came to one another and speed! June 7 ) at 9.00 p.m the other hand, Bruce Lee ; his. To store and/or access device information there were many people have said throughout the years that Bruce Lee that! In WWII in hand-to-hand combat up for in otherworldly speed and skill would him! Muhammad Ali-style boxing, & quot ; Chan said success in the sport that is like combat, he a. Carnival nonsense that ended in a draw because nobody knew what the hell score... Provide the best experiences, we can choose our rules Lee would have no.. Choose our rules Jack City ) a discipline known for its intricate techniques and strategies, others. Blockbuster star in just a few years an athlete Show off my hand, he ventured to Japan to on!

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