Muhammad Ali, who has long been called "The Greatest of All Time," was at the center of national attention during his days as a professional fighter. 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. The story of Ali was unearthed in the 1970s by Mass Appeal. 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. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing, GET THE LATEST ISSUE AT . Despite his reputation, Ali went into the fight as an underdog against Foreman, the then-undefeated champion. Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy, Tarantino said at a recent press junket in Moscow. All Rights Reserved. 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 is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. "I was very lucky to . 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. Polanski was out of town shooting that summer. 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. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. The film depicts Lee (played by Mike Moh) swaggering around the set of "Green Hornet,". ", Also pictured are the classic, still-standing marquees of famed bar the Frolic Room, the Pantages Theater (both still open) and the Vine Theater. In the past, Lee claimed that if he ever met Ali, he would be assassinated. Look at my hand, he said. 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. 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. The weight and height advantage is massive. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali] documentary. He has killed many men in WWII in hand-to-hand combat. But what Lee lacked in brute force, he made up for in otherworldly speed and skill. "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. On July 20, 1973, the great martial-arts movie star Bruce Lee mysteriously died in Hong Kong. "Bruce Lee was my friend and teacher," he explained. The fightingskillofBruce Leeis iconic in its own right, but it was actually inspired by Muhammad Ali. The four friends did dine at the Hollywood landmark El Coyote on the night of the murders before going back to Tate's home. Naturally, were talking about Bruce Lee. 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.". What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. I saw it in Thailand. Ali retired in the early 1980s and died in 2016, but remains the biggest boxing icon ever. 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. Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. Back in 1966, however, LeBell was also working as a stuntman, and when he walked onto the set of "The Green Hornet,"Dobbins asked him to apply a headlock on Lee. 4 Photo by AP. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Ali's image from the screen. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. I'm getting to know how he thinks and moves. The same problems would exist. "I taught him judo and wrestling and stuff like that and some finishing holds which he later worked into some movies, and he showed me most of the kicks and striking which even today I use in the movies. He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. But in a devastating twist of fate, the Hong Kong actor didn't live to see his big breakout moment. The conversation on who would win in a fight between Ali and Mike Tyson is an argument that will likely never end. They share an almost mystical fan affection because of their unique skills, which are sometimes overlooked because of their impact on worldwide culture. Not sure if this was intentional, but apparently Bruce Lee was known to carry a gun at all times, in case some crazy fan decided to pick a fight. Almost 8,000 miles away, in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, Muhammad Ali was training hard to avenge his second professional defeat. 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. But the next section of his answer is the one I find the most illuminating: "Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? 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. But if Cliff and Bruce were fighting in the jungles of the Philippines in a hand-to-hand combat fight Cliff would kill him.. And if he could repeat the feat, then Alis career would be in serious jeopardy. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is now playing in theaters. Ali changed what he called his "slave name" to his new Muslim name in 1964. They broke into the home and committed the grisly ritualistic killings after midnight (Steve Parent, a fifth victim, isn't depicted in the film). Bruce Lee, is another legendary fighter, actor, and founder of Jeet Kune Do, a martial arts philosophy. If you ask me the question, 'Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee or Dracula?' 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. If Bruce Lee truly believed that Ali could defeat him, that would be reason enough for Lee to take inspiration from him. It is a whip rather than a club. -- One of the greatest . 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. The two became friends and frequently discussed the martial arts, and Rhee wound up teaching a few taekwondo kicks to Bruce Lee. To credit this as a mixed martial arts event, as some do, is overpraise. He has killed many men in WWII in hand to hand combat. Lines have already been drawn in the sand, and assuming you've seen the film and have thought about that moment after you left the theater, you've probably already crystallized your feelings on it. Like bigjeffoh, I quickly thought of Super Chicken. Maybe he was cocky in as far as martial arts because he was very sure of himself. 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. If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, hes a fictional character so he could beat Bruce Lee up. Topics:.css-wpf514{color:#72B97D;}Boxing News, MMA News, Boxing, muhammad ali, MMA, Steve McClaren embraces Erik ten Hag in heartwarming moment after Man United win, fans think they know what he said, Roy Keane delivered hilarious rant about West Hams defending, Ian Wright had to hold in his laugh, Martin Odegaard turned a slide tackle into a five-star skill, he's a magician, VAR controversy as West Ham go 1-0 up against Man United when ball looked out, Alejandro Garnacho scores stunning goal as Man United advance in the FA Cup, Man United fans are discussing what Paul Pogba could have been with Casemiro alongside him, Spurs knocked out of the FA Cup in fifth round by Sheffield United, who would win in a fight between Lee and Mike Tyson, before he passed away in 2016 at the age of 74, Muhammad Ali once fought in the first ever MMA event back in 1976, the footage is wild, Muhammad Ali's undefeated grandson is chasing major fight in Australia, Mike Tyson 'Would Have Been Knocked Out' By Muhammad Ali Claims Larry Holmes, Deontay Wilder Reacts To Who Would Win Out Of A Fight Between Him And Muhammad Ali. His conclusion? "When Bruce Lee kicks, you don't shut your eyes because when you shut your eyes, you can't see Bruce Lee kick," mentioned Chan, who couldn't shut his eyes for some time. "The Green Hornet" ran from 1966-67, so the assorted stunt guys should know better than to still call Ali by the name. The tale unfolds during the turbulent summer of 1969, when Tate's horrifying murder dominated headlines. Martial arts icon Bruce Lee admitted that the legendary Muhammad Ali would have 'killed him' in a crossover fight, according to Robert Clouse. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Bruce Lee, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino. And there you have it. THE RING SHOP (CLICK HERE). Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. 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. He comes across as an arrogant (expletive) who was full of hot air, she told The Wrap. Related: How Bruce Lee's One-Inch Punch Really Works. 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. What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing? Providing the egos didnt clash, this would have been a match made in heaven. Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? The movie's location manager, Rick Schuler, found another site about five miles away which had also been used as a set for Westerns. Tarantino featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the film. Bruces right hand followed Alis right hand, Alis left foot followed Bruces left foot. The way he was talking, I didnt just make a lot of that up. So it looks like Lee has settled this debate long ago. In a 2015 interview with Maxim, former UFC champ Ronda Rousey said that Lee would be no match for Ali. Muhammad Ali is the GOAT of boxing. Plus Muhammad Ali was way bigger than Bruce Lee. Like Ali, Lee was electric when he got up on his toes and his grace was something to behold. I read more of the quote somewhere online years ago, can't remember where, sorry. 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Tyson, who is a huge admirer of Ali, would. The real Lee was a big fan of boxing and "worshipped" Ali. If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, hes a fictional character so he could beat Bruce Lee up. Bruce Lee's father Lee Hoi-chuen was a famous Cantonese opera singer based in Hong Kong. 3. Is what he admires are warriors. Not only did he say that but his wife, Linda Lee, said that in her first biography I ever read. Lee's daughter, Shannon, objected to her father's portrayal. What would Ali have made of Lee? He likely has more accurate strikes, and is significantly more durable. That said, the only way Bruce Lee could theoretically beat him is if he embraced more grappling techniques and avoided trading blows. 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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. Did he have a good engine in a fight? Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee never met. Bruce was looking into the mirror, alongside Ali. For a man who is not as titanic as Tyson or Ali, he landed punches that clocked 190 km/h. More: Every Actor Bruce Lee Trained In Hollywood. Ali was also a part of the famous simulated fight with Rocky Marciano. 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. He'd kill me.". One of the most famous fighters of this generation once gave her thoughts on the matter of Bruce Lee vs. Muhammad Ali. 25 Things You Didnt Know About Muhammad Ali, Ali's funeral in Louisville, Ky. on Friday. 'That's a little Chinese hand. 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." 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. "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. While fighting, Ali constantly moved his feet around, making it difficult to determine what he was going to do next. If people are saying, 'Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali.' Thanks for signing up! Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Alis image from the screen. Bruce Lee first introduced nunchucks in the films in Fist of Fury and again in The Way of the Dragon before Inosanto was cast in Lee's unfinished film Game of Death, where the pair go at each . As a martial artist, Lee is the closest thing to perfection that Ive ever seen and I doubt that will change in my lifetime. Who would have thought that in a film which ostensibly involved the Manson murders, one of the biggest talking points weeks later would center on Bruce Lee? "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. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. Bruce Lee made a handful of movies from 1971 and 1973 . Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. 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. Brad would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee, but Cliff maybe could, Tarantino said. Have you seen kickboxing? Ken Norton, a former Marine, had broken his jaw and outpointed him in March 1973. Did Ali fight Tyson? Ali was about 6-foot 3-inches tall and, since he was a heavyweight, he weighed well over 200-pounds in his career. "It was all in the way he moved - the way he moved made him famous. (The Pussycat was torn down in 2000, but the marquee was rebuilt for the film.). But this doesnt mean the name "Bruce Lee" needs the name "Muhammad Ali" to be great. If were talking about potential, then there is no doubt that Lee could have been a magnificent professional fighter. He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. 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