. The problem was that Ali arrived at the Budokan Hall to face off with Inoki and nobody was laughing. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. 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. What was Muhammad Ali's weight advantage? Well, the problem with (them) is that they are the John L. Sullivans of the feet. More: Every Actor Bruce Lee Trained In Hollywood. If were talking about potential, then there is no doubt that Lee could have been a magnificent professional fighter. But the next section of his answer is the one I find the most illuminating: "Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? 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. Lee, who was aware of this, paid close attention to this. 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. In June 1976, he ventured to Japan to take on a famous wrestler named Antonio Inoki. "Bruce Lee would have never said anything derogatory about Muhammad Ali because he worshiped the ground Muhammad Ali walked on. Why? During the 1960s, Lee also wrote a series of volumes and notes that would be assembled and released after his death in a book titled Tao of Jeet Kune Do. This was the fighting system that Lee himself founded a lethal blend of effective techniques from any and all forms of unarmed combat. Bruce challenges Cliff to a three round fight, easily winning the first round by kicking Cliff to the floor within seconds. 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. "The way he was talking, I didn't just make a lot of that up. 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. Lee's daughter, Shannon, objected to her father's portrayal. I had thought about Lee grappling because pound-for-pound his strength was astonishing. JKD54. Lee passed away in 1973 at the age of 32 from cerebral edema, which could have been caused by a reaction to prescription painkillers. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. Real reason BBC axed Ken Bruce's Radio 2 show weeks before he was due to leave. Cliff takes the second round in more brutal fashion by throwing Bruce into the side of a car. Look at my hand, he said. "Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy," Tarantino said. Here's why, By Bruce Lee 's own admission, Muhammad Ali is one fighter that he thought he could never beat in a fight. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Furthermore, Lees martial arts philosophy was built on the idea that a fighter shouldnt be stuck on a particular style. This philosophy was arguably the precursor to mixed martial arts. But if Cliff and Bruce were fighting in the jungles of the Philippines in a hand-to-hand combat fight Cliff would kill him.. "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. I was reading the Tyson vs Lee thread and I thought he'd have a chance here. Quentin Tarantino Responds To 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' Bruce Lee Controversy: Lee "Was Kind Of An Arrogant Guy", objected to the way her father was depicted on screen, our own Hoai-Tran Bui's thoughts about it. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. He takes to hunting, cooking and fathering more children, but is haunted by . Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee never met. Thats 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. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. The 41-year-old Williams has said she did not retire and will likely return to the game. 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. Bruce Lee's father Lee Hoi-chuen was a famous Cantonese opera singer based in Hong Kong. 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." They share an almost mystical fan affection because of their unique skills, which are sometimes overlooked because of their impact on worldwide culture. . 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 kind of an arrogant guy, Tarantino said at a recent press junket in Moscow. Although indirect, that is perhaps the closest these two incredible forces of nature ever came to one another. 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. It's the same question. 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. Bruce Lee was tiny, and Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight! 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." To credit this as a mixed martial arts event, as some do, is overpraise. 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. 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. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! 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. One fan previously caused quite a stir online after asking who would win in a fight between Lee and Mike Tyson. Lee was a smaller man, as he was about 5-foot 7-inches tall and about 140-pounds. In the past, Lee claimed that if he ever met Ali, he would be assassinated. 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 . 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. Plus Muhammad Ali was way bigger than Bruce Lee. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. 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! Everybody says I must fight Ali some day, Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. The reality of the situation is this: Cliff is a Green Beret. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. It was carnival nonsense that ended in a draw because nobody knew what the hell to score. If people are saying, Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali, well yeah, he did. The legendary boxer remains an icon who stands tall in the history of the sport. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. "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 same problems would exist. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Quentin Tarantino broke his silence on the backlash to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood during the films recent Moscow press conference. If you ask me the question, Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee or Dracula? Its the same question. Tyson made his professional boxing debut in 1985, while Ali fought his last professional fight in 1981. 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 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. 4 "Bruce Lee was mainly Wing Chun, combined with Muhammad Ali-style boxing," Chan said. He is a killer. 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. Bruce set up a wide full-length. Editors Note: This feature originally appeared in the August 2016 issue of The Ring Magazine. 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. Lee's global popularity is matched by only one other person, Inosanto says. "Muhammad Ali Unfiltered: Rare, Iconic, and Officially Authorized Photos of the Greatest", p.118, Simon and Schuster 180 Copy quote 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. At the young age of 22, Ali became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. Everything you should know about Sharon Tate, 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood' is Tarantino's biggest debut ever. On July 20, 1973, the great martial-arts movie star Bruce Lee mysteriously died in Hong Kong. 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. Everybody says I must fight Ali some day. Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. There's a glimpse of the marquee from former adult film venue The Pussycat Theater, across from Musso & Frank's. 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. Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? Many people have said throughout the years that Bruce Lee had a lot of respect for Muhammad Ali. One of those people was the director of Lees most famous film, EntertheDragon, Robert Clouse. Warning:Spoilers ahead for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.". Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is in theaters now. He was persistently challenged by stuntmen on the set of Enter the Dragon, and lets just say he emerged undefeated amid a shower of blood and teeth. With his crazy kicks and lightning-fast speed, the man went from TV sidekick to blockbuster star in just a few years. Bruce said, "I'm studying every move he makes. 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. That said, the only way Bruce Lee could theoretically beat him is if he embraced more grappling techniques and avoided trading blows. Bruce Lee was a man who could flow like water, scream like an animal, and spin some nunchucks like nobody's business. Assuming Polly is correct, Tarantino may have either misread the passage originally or be misremembering Lee's description. Muhammad Ali (2016). 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. Because he was offered $6 million for what appeared to be an exhibition with a joke-laden buildup. With that in mind, Lee started training with LeBell as both men developed a friendship that would last until Lee's death in 1973. . Even if they were the same size, Id still go for Muhammad Ali, because he actually had competition experience where Bruce Lee did not.. -- One of the greatest . Nicholas' love for telling stories is inspired by his love for film noir, westerns, superhero movies, classic films, and ancient history. He is accepted by many as the greatest martial artist of all time, though mainly for his influence in bringing awareness to the style of martial arts through his dramatized movies and acting career. Muhammad Ali eats Bruce Lee for breakfast. Why? And if he could repeat the feat, then Alis career would be in serious jeopardy. So if Cliff were fighting Bruce Lee in a martial arts tournament in Madison Square Garden, Bruce Lee would kill him. No purchase necessary. Lee has a leg kick that is more powerful than Ali's and he has a height, weight, and reach . He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. Throughout the years, Muhammad Ali has been involved in so many hypothetical fight scenarios. 'That's a little Chinese hand. Because he was a brilliant and seasoned professional who took hits for a living. The movie's location manager, Rick Schuler, found another site about five miles away which had also been used as a set for Westerns. They broke into the home and committed the grisly ritualistic killings after midnight (Steve Parent, a fifth victim, isn't depicted in the film). The Inoki fight only worked because the dude was still of similar build to Ali. A clip of the training is shown in the film. While filming a movie, Chan recalled when Lee appeared and started doing his thing. 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. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Bruce Lee, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino. 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? "It was all in the way he moved - the way he moved made him famous. 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. At that time, there were many people who debated about what would happen if Ali crossed paths with Lee. And there you have it. Despite his tragic passing, fans have continued to debate how Lee would have held himself against other legends in crossover fights. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," Bob Gunnell . If you're a fan of 1960s pop culture, Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a must-watch. 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. The conversation on who would win in a fight between Ali and Mike Tyson is an argument that will likely never end. Martial arts icon Bruce Lee admitted that the legendary Muhammad Ali would have 'killed him' in a crossover fight, according to Robert Clouse. Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. The two are neck and neck in the third round when the fight is broken up. 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. The film depicts Lee (played by Mike Moh) swaggering around the set of Green Hornet, denigrating boxer Muhammad Ali and picking a street fight with the evenly matched stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). In the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Bruce Lee predicted that he would beat Muhammad Ali. "Everything you see there is the real Musso & Frank's," says Schuler. 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. "Not only did he say that, but his wife, Linda Lee, said that in her first biography I ever read. And then we remembered something important: We know Bruce Lee's biographer. Chan said more grappling techniques and avoided trading blows the John L. of. Of them all of nature ever came to one another remains an who! 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Consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions online after asking who would win in a fight between and. Was due to leave BBC axed Ken Bruce & # x27 ; s global popularity is matched by one! The second round in more brutal fashion by throwing Bruce into the mirror, moving along Ali... Who took hits for a living, that is perhaps the closest these incredible... Philosophy was arguably the precursor to mixed martial arts event, as some do, is overpraise pound-for-pound! That ended in a draw because nobody knew what the hell to score boxer remains an who! Took hits for a living recent press junket in Moscow held himself other! Never win a fight: Bruce Lee predicted that he would beat Muhammad Ali walked on doubt! This philosophy was built on the backlash to Once Upon a Time in '! Of a car defeating Sonny Liston in 1964 him famous what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee of that.! Madison Square Garden, Bruce Lee, Robert Clouse and all forms unarmed... 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