"I went and worked out with [Lee] at his school," LeBell was quoted as saying. Bruces right hand followed Alis right hand, Alis left foot followed Bruces left foot. 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. -- One of the greatest . Yes i know Bruce admired Ali! Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. Ali could do things that Lee couldnt, and vica verca. The problem was that Ali arrived at the Budokan Hall to face off with Inoki and nobody was laughing. No purchase necessary. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali.Bruces right hand followed Alis right hand, Alis left foot followed Bruces left foot. 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. Rousey certainly makes a valid point. 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. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Bruce Lee, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino. 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. Almost 8,000 miles away, in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, Muhammad Ali was training hard to avenge his second professional defeat. He knew Lewis personally and says Lewis told him one of the hardest kicks he'd ever endured was from Bruce Lee. 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. And there you have it. Personally, I feel that Benny Urquidez, a legendary multi-weight world champion in full-contact martial arts, would have been too much for Lee. Plus Muhammad Ali was way bigger than Bruce Lee. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. The same problems would exist. Lee was a boxing fan. He has killed many men in WWII in hand to hand combat. I had thought about Lee grappling because pound-for-pound his strength was astonishing. In fact, Complex reported that Lee once said that Ali would kill him if the two ever fought. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is in theaters now. The legendary boxer remains an icon who stands tall in the history of the sport. 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. 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. If people are saying, 'Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali.' He was also the first to do some things on film." Chan lamented how Lee's superstardom led to his early death as he "was under so much pressure to be a superhero." The documentary Bruce Lee30 for 30, Be Water airs on ESPN tonight (June 7) at 9.00 p.m. In the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Bruce Lee predicted that he would beat Muhammad Ali. That said, the only way Bruce Lee could theoretically beat him is if he embraced more grappling techniques and avoided trading blows. Your destination for the best boxing news, videos and live streams! This philosophy was arguably the precursor to mixed martial arts. In the past, Lee claimed that if he ever met Ali, he would be assassinated. And not someone who had to fight triple as hard as any of those people did to accomplish what was naturally given to so many others.. Must be 18 years of age to enter Sweepstakes. 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. In a straight boxing match, Lee, a 5-foot-7 lightweight, or junior welterweight at best, would have no chance. If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, he's a fictional character, so he could beat Bruce Lee up.". By ABC NEWS. Enter the Sweepstakes and receive the RockMerch newsletter with exclusive product discounts. 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? Like bigjeffoh, I quickly thought of Super Chicken. 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. 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood': Everything you should know about Sharon Tate, Box-office winner: 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood' is Tarantino's biggest debut ever. Bruce Lee did say that, he meant in a boxing match. What he admires is combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport than martial arts tournaments are. His conclusion? 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. June 3, 201602:13. For starters, it features two of our generation's best actors (Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt) in the lead roles. . Brad [Pitt] would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee, but Cliff maybe could, said Tarantino. 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In June 1976, he ventured to Japan to take on a famous wrestler named Antonio Inoki. The real Lee was a big fan of boxing and "worshipped" Ali. Did Ali fight Tyson? "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. Lee was referring to Alis dancing legs and the Ali shuffle, which he became known for in the ring. Alright? Maybe he was cocky in as far as martial arts because he was very sure of himself. Even if they were the same size, Id still go for Muhammad Ali, because he actually had competition experience where Bruce Lee did not. Because while he may lay more hits on Tyson, one hit from. Ali (left) attempts to evade kicks from wrestler Antonio Inoki. JKD54. Ali retired in the early 1980s and died in 2016, but remains the biggest boxing icon ever. Lee passed away in 1973 at the age of 32. 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. His career has started to . More: Every Actor Bruce Lee Trained In Hollywood. Dan Inosanto, who trained under Lee for years, has said that Lee taught his students to pay close attention to Alis footwork and the flow of his attacks [via Variety]. Here's an excerpt from that book: Another time Yeung, aka [Bolo] went to see Bruce at Golden Harvest Studios. However, much of the setup is accurate. Why? It is a whip rather than a club. In 1974, Ali fought and defeated George Foreman in what is widely considered the most historically significant event in boxing. The two are neck and neck in the third round when the fight is broken up. Everything you should know about Sharon Tate, 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood' is Tarantino's biggest debut ever. 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One of the two doesnt need the other to be great. Muhammad Ali = Boxer Bruce Lee = Martial artist He can only fight in a He can fight according to the given situation You will be redirected back to your article in, Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. Lee, who was aware of this, paid close attention to this. More so, Bruce Lee certainly didnt ever think that he could beat Muhammad Ali if the two actually ever fought in real life. "The Green Hornet" ran from 1966-67, so the assorted stunt guys should know better than to still call Ali by the name. 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. All Rights Reserved. Tarantino featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the film. "Look at my hand," he said. Assuming Polly is correct, Tarantino may have either misread the passage originally or be misremembering Lee's description. Both struggled through adversity and racism, both transcended cultural and nationalistic boundaries, both were wonderfully charismatic and both were astonishingly gifted in their respective fields. Lee stood at 1.7 meters and weighed 61 kg. Because he was offered $6 million for what appeared to be an exhibition with a joke-laden buildup. 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. 1,386 663. All Rights Reserved. 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. So what if Ali and Lee had gotten together? Lees daughter, Shannon Lee, and his protg and training partner Dan Inosanto aired their grievances with the scene to Variety in July. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. Watch Lee in any of his movies and youll get frequent glimpses of swift lateral movement. Ali's the greatest there's ever been." Tyson was the youngest heavyweight champion of all-time at 20 years old. Tyson made his professional boxing debut in 1985, while Ali fought his last professional fight in 1981. Ali fought outside of boxing rules only once and it was an unmitigated disaster. Muhammad Ali eats Bruce Lee for breakfast. The way he was talking, I didnt just make a lot of that up. "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. Polanski was out of town shooting that summer. If Lee can use legs, then he has the power, skill and quickness to hurt Ali badly. "Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy," Tarantino said. And how about Lee against modern UFC stars? 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! The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. 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]. "Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee are the most recognizable faces in the world," Inosanto says. With that in mind, Lee started training with LeBell as both men developed a friendship that would last until Lee's death in 1973. But if Cliff and Bruce were fighting in the jungles of the Philippines in a hand-to-hand combat fight Cliff would kill him.. . The influence Ali had on him is undeniable. 3. Have you seen kickboxing? Inosanto said, He was never, in my opinion, cocky. On September 10, Ali scored a close split-decision victory at The Forum in Inglewood, California, which is only a half hours drive from Graumans (now TCL) Chinese Theater, where Enter the Dragon had premiered 22 days earlier. 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. 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. 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 . He achieved tremendous success in the sport, becoming the first and only three-time lineal heavyweight champion. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Lee is introduced holding court for everyone who will listen, bragging that he could beat boxing champ Cassius Clay, a.k.a. "It was all in the way he moved - the way he moved made him famous. What was Muhammad Ali's weight advantage? 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. 4 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. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Whenever an iconic person dies, a wealth of stories inevitably pour out and help us as we attempt to create a lasting image of that person. He has killed many men in WWII in hand-to-hand combat. 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. In 1972, Lee appeared on the Dick Cavett Show alongside Ali and gave glowing praise of his martial arts ability. June 3, 2016, 9:38 PM. Had Lee lived, it is almost certain that the pair would have crossed paths, but his untimely demise meant that their acquaintanceship, much like this fan-fueled superfight, would be confined to fantasy. Bruce Lee, the GOAT of martial arts, has no ties to Florida. For his part, Tarantino insisted that Lee was "kind of an arrogant guy," maintaining that he based his characterization of the actor on what he purportedly said in real life. He has a degree in journalism from the University of Montevallo, and is the author of the psychological thriller and time travel novel, "A Man Against the World." 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. Cliff takes the second round in more brutal fashion by throwing Bruce into the side of a car. 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. Total 29,751 days. Hed kill me.'. Did Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee ever meet? Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Ali's image from the screen. 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. "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. 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. "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 . In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. "I understand they want to make the Brad Pitt character this super badass who could beat up Bruce Lee," said the martial arts legend's daughter, Shannon Lee, in an interview with The Wrap. 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. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali] documentary. If Bruce Lee truly believed that Ali could defeat him, that would be reason enough for Lee to take inspiration from him. As a martial artist, Lee is the closest thing to perfection that Ive ever seen and I doubt that will change in my lifetime. Bruce Lee was tiny, and Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight! Ahh, a test of skills, than I shall say Ali, Ali is as described by *I've handcuffed lightning *Thrown thunder in jail *Murdered a rock, Tyson respected him, Foreman did, Holyfield . Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. He was born there on November 27, 1940, making him a dual Hong Kong and United States citizen by birth. "Bruce Lee would have never said anything derogatory about Muhammad Ali because he worshiped the ground Muhammad Ali walked on. Tyson, who is a huge admirer of Ali, would. For a man who is not as titanic as Tyson or Ali, he landed punches that clocked 190 km/h. Hed kill me.". Norton didnt. Tarantino also defended that decision. Schuler says the classic Hollywood eatery (Tarantino is a frequent diner) shut down for the first time for five days to allow Pitt, DiCaprio and Al Pacino (as agent Marvin Schwarzs) to shoot in the middle of tourist season last July. Randy Couture's manager, Sam Spira, who is a martial artist and big in the MMA community, says he saw Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee spar. Lee has a leg kick that is more powerful than Ali's and he has a height, weight, and reach . "Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy," Tarantino said at a recent press junket in Moscow. Profile. 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. Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? ', Pam Grier Thought Samuel L. Jackson's Fast 'Jackie Brown' Dialogue Would Make Her Fall Down the Stairs, Oscars 2023: Best Costume Design Predictions. I read more of the quote somewhere online years ago, can't remember where, sorry. Despite his tragic passing, fans have continued to debate how Lee would have held himself against other legends in crossover fights. There's been a lot of discussion about that character's portrayal in the film, and at a recent press conference in Moscow, Tarantino himself weighed in on the Bruce Lee controversy but he may have just dug himself a slightly deeper hole. Muhammad Ali, in a fight: "My hands are registered as lethal weapons." Bruce Lee made a handful of movies from 1971 and 1973 . 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. 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 . The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Bruce Lee's exact age would be 81 years 5 months 15 days old if alive. 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). Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Nicholas' love for telling stories is inspired by his love for film noir, westerns, superhero movies, classic films, and ancient history. Lee set up a wide mirror so that he could follow along with Alis movements as they occurred on screen. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali] documentary. Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? Is what he admires are warriors. Another time Yeung, aka [Bolo] went to see Bruce at Golden Harvest Studios. Legendary Boxer Muhammad Ali Has Died at Age 74. On July 20, 1973, the great martial-arts movie star Bruce Lee mysteriously died in Hong Kong. The list goes on and on. The conversation on who would win in a fight between Ali and Mike Tyson is an argument that will likely never end. At the young age of 22, Ali became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. Lewis was a heavyweight kickboxer; Lee was 5-foot-8 and weighed less than 150 pounds. If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, hes a fictional character so he could beat Bruce Lee up. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) documentary. 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. OP did say he based this on the Superman vs Muhammad Ali comic. While filming a movie, Chan recalled when Lee appeared and started doing his thing. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Bruce Lee can be seen employing a similar approach to his own footwork in his martial arts movies. Whatever the outcome, the Battle of Icons wouldve been one hell of an event. 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. Did Bruce Lee stand a chance against Cassius Clay? Still, I was interested in what Tarantino had to say, and I suspect many of you are, too. Was 6-foot-3 and more than 200 pounds during their respective heydays with Inoki and nobody laughing... Trained in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino in Moscow never said he could Bruce... Up Bruce Lee was tiny, and I suspect many of you are, too in hand hand... Champ Cassius Clay Trained in Hollywood is in theaters now a feeler, wrote Lee in a fight Ali... So he could beat Muhammad Ali has died at age 74 did Bruce certainly... Crossover fights lateral movement meant in a boxing match of boxing what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee & ;! Made his professional boxing debut in 1985, while Ali fought and defeated George Foreman in Tarantino! 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