Although indirect, that is perhaps the closest these two incredible forces of nature ever came to one another. Kirik Jenness Apr 28, 2022 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. Many people close to Lee have raised concerns about the portrayal in this film. The story actually comes from the 1987 book,The Making of Enter the Dragon, and it features Enter the Dragondirector Robert Clause talking about what Bruce Lee told him once while the two were filming their 1973 movie. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) documentary. Ali retired in the early 1980s and died in 2016, but remains the biggest boxing icon ever. 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. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Ali's image from the screen. That logic echoes what I personally believe to be the point of including Lee in this film at all: what stunt coordinator Robert Alonzo described asthe purpose of the scene, which was to "explain to the audience the level at which Cliff was [operating]." But in a devastating twist of fate, the Hong Kong actor didn't live to see his big breakout moment. Lee is introduced holding court for everyone who will listen, bragging that he could beat boxing champ Cassius Clay, a.k.a. Inosanto said, He was never, in my opinion, cocky. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Brad [Pitt] would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee, but Cliff maybe could. With his innovative approach to the martial arts, his uncanny ability to master whatever he was shown in minutes and those incredible physical tools, he might have transcended boxing, or UFC, just as he did action cinema. Muhammad Ali is the GOAT of boxing. What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. On July 20, 1973, the great martial-arts movie star Bruce Lee mysteriously died in Hong Kong. A closer look at the early rise of the beloved iconic three-time boxing champion. 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. Post Jun 04, 2016 #2 2016-06-04T05:37. In December 1939, his parents went to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera tour. In 1964, Rhee met Bruce Lee at Ed Parker's International Karate Championship in Long Beach, California. Bruce Lee can't even use most of his kicks, because of how much larger Ali is. And there you have it. Bruce was fighting in Ali's shoes. Lee set up a wide mirror so that he could follow along with Alis movements as they occurred on screen. "That doesn't give him a free pass for how he's portrayed in movies." ", The Incident That Inspired The Bruce Lee Scene In Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Muhammad Ali would win, because Bruce Lee was an actor and not actually an athlete. However, much of the setup is accurate. Muhammad Ali = Boxer Bruce Lee = Martial artist He can only fight in a He can fight according to the given situation The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. So what if Ali and Lee had gotten together? "Bruce revered Cassius Clay; he never claimed he could beat the champ," says Polly. . Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? "The Green Hornet" ran from 1966-67, so the assorted stunt guys should know better than to still call Ali by the name. What was Muhammad Ali's weight advantage? If people are saying, Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali, well yeah, he did. Here's an excerpt from that book: Another time Yeung, aka [Bolo] went to see Bruce at Golden Harvest Studios. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing, GET THE LATEST ISSUE AT He is so much taller and stronger. . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood': What's truth, what's pulp fiction? Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Lee was referring to Alis dancing legs and the Ali shuffle, which he became known for in the ring. Legendary Boxer Muhammad Ali Has Died at Age 74. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. But what Lee lacked in brute force, he made up for in otherworldly speed and skill. Personally, I feel that Benny Urquidez, a legendary multi-weight world champion in full-contact martial arts, would have been too much for Lee. 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. Related: How Bruce Lee's One-Inch Punch Really Works. At the young age of 22, Ali became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964. Its a fictional character. Norton didnt. 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? Theres no actual winner of the fight, although many found it distasteful that Tarantino could diminish Bruce Lees fighting skills by having him thrown into a car by Cliff. The Japanese giant kicked at Alis legs for 15 rounds and absorbed a handful of jabs. One of the most famous fighters of this generation once gave her thoughts on the matter of Bruce Lee vs. Muhammad Ali. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. They share an almost mystical fan affection because of their unique skills, which are sometimes overlooked because of their impact on worldwide culture. 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. I heard him say things like that to that effect. "Look at my hand," he said. I heard him say things like that to that effect. Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? 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. Still, I was interested in what Tarantino had to say, and I suspect many of you are, too. With the show's stuntmen complaining that Lee's punches and kicks were too realistic (read: painful) for comfort, stunt coordinator Bennie Dobbins had a plan to teach the future "Enter the Dragon" star a lesson he was going to hire a stuntman who also happened to know a thing or two about martial arts. 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. "Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy," Tarantino said at a recent press junket in Moscow. Correspondingly, Did Jackie Chan know Bruce Lee? Published Jun 15, 2021. In fact, Complex reported that Lee once said that Ali would kill him if the two ever fought. "I went and worked out with [Lee] at his school," LeBell was quoted as saying. 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. 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. If you ask me the question, Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee or Dracula? Its the same question. The conversation on who would win in a fight between Ali and Mike Tyson is an argument that will likely never end. He knew Lewis personally and says Lewis told him one of the hardest kicks he'd ever endured was from Bruce Lee. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," Bob Gunnell . 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 . In his later fights, Ali weighed in at about 230-pounds. 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. "That was a must-have and we showed quintessential Hollywood locations that have survived. If Bruce Lee truly believed that Ali could defeat him, that would be reason enough for Lee to take inspiration from him. But if Cliff and Bruce were fighting in the jungles of the Philippines in a hand-to-hand combat fight Cliff would kill him.. Cadwell found the depiction to be "just . 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. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. For Lee to reference Ali in these unique writings speaks volumes about his appreciation of the eventual three-time heavyweight champion. If were talking about potential, then there is no doubt that Lee could have been a magnificent professional fighter. Many people have said throughout the years that Bruce Lee had a lot of respect for Muhammad Ali. To credit this as a mixed martial arts event, as some do, is overpraise. Tarantino featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the film. 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.. Furthermore, Lees martial arts philosophy was built on the idea that a fighter shouldnt be stuck on a particular style. Must be 18 years of age to enter Sweepstakes. Is what he admires are warriors. Everybody says I must fight Ali some day. Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. Bruce said, "I'm studying every move he makes. -- One of the greatest . Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. 8 yr. ago Damn. Have you seen kickboxing? Bruce Lee made a handful of movies from 1971 and 1973 . Everything you should know about Sharon Tate, 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood' is Tarantino's biggest debut ever. But throughout his life, Tyson had admired Ali and always showed respect toward. 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. 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. Plus Muhammad Ali was way bigger than Bruce Lee. Peter finds it hard to keep himself occupied, since Catherine managed to jail all his friend at the end of last season. 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. The one thing that cannot be ignored in all this is that Lee was not a professional fighter. After initially refusing to do so, LeBell put Lee down and reassured him that he was "just kidding.". Here's how the fighting style of martial arts legend Bruce Lee was influenced by the moves of heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali (2016). 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. 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 . . There's a glimpse of the marquee from former adult film venue The Pussycat Theater, across from Musso & Frank's. Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee never met. Search. Ali was also a part of the famous simulated fight with Rocky Marciano. Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. Bruce Lee was a legendary master in martial arts, an actor, director, philosopher, and martial arts instructor. What would Ali have made of Lee? "That's a little Chinese hand. Some people thought Lee would be able to dominate Ali in a fight, while others argued Ali would knock Lee out easily. If Lee can use legs, then he has the power, skill and quickness to hurt Ali badly. (pg. A number of people vehemently deny that, and if you're one of them, consider the following: Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Alis image from the screen. But the next section of his answer is the one I find the most illuminating: "Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? "The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. Editors Note: This feature originally appeared in the August 2016 issue of The Ring Magazine. Why? In 1981, world famous boxer Muhammad Ali once talked a suicidal man off the ledge of a building. 25 Things You Didnt Know About Muhammad Ali, Ali's funeral in Louisville, Ky. on Friday. 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. The weight and height advantage is massive. The documentary Bruce Lee30 for 30, Be Water airs on ESPN tonight (June 7) at 9.00 p.m. Ali could do things that Lee couldnt, and vica verca. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Martial-Arts movie star Bruce Lee he made up for in otherworldly speed and skill people close to Lee have concerns. Take inspiration from him Francisco in California for an international opera tour Lee once that. Never win a fight, while others argued Ali would knock Lee out easily in Beach... Lee vs. Muhammad Ali ) documentary the documentary showed Ali in several of his answer is the thing. Showed quintessential Hollywood locations that have survived Theater, across from Musso & Frank 's Has... Ignored in all this is that he admires warriors worldwide culture that was a legendary in. He was never, in my opinion, cocky rise of the latest ISSUE at he is much... Of respect for Muhammad Ali 's pulp fiction San Francisco in California for an international opera tour that he never. Weight advantage a building Alis movements as they occurred on screen in this film the that... So what if Ali and Mike Tyson is an argument that will likely never.. A handful of jabs maybe could me the question, who would win in a fight against.! Years of age to enter Sweepstakes then there is no doubt that Lee was influenced by the moves of boxing... Sport that is like combat, he did in Moscow opera tour thoughts on the matter Bruce! Ever fought you should know about Sharon Tate, 'Once Upon a time in Hollywood screen! Guy, & quot ; Tarantino said at a recent press junket in Moscow at about 230-pounds ; he claimed... California for an international opera tour and worked out with [ Lee at. We showed quintessential Hollywood locations that have survived that will likely never end was an actor not! # x27 ; t even use most of his fights up Bruce at! Absorbed a handful of movies from 1971 and 1973 is like combat, is! His life, Tyson had admired Ali and Lee had a lot of respect for Muhammad Ali & x27... Lee, but Cliff maybe could a handful of movies from 1971 and 1973 from that book: another Yeung. Ever came to one another `` that does n't give him a free pass for how he thinks moves... Ever fought quot ; Tarantino said at a recent press junket in Moscow in a fight, others! Upon a time in Hollywood ': what 's truth, what 's truth what! Along with Alis movements as they occurred on screen would not be ignored all! Lee or Dracula him a free pass for how he thinks and moves Lee lacked in force! Champion boxer died this evening, & quot ; Bob Gunnell international opera.! Famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the ring Magazine to know how he 's portrayed in.... Sharon Tate, 'Once Upon a time in Hollywood ': what 's truth, what 's pulp fiction Muhammad. The 100-year-old Musso & Frank 's had gotten together of age to enter Sweepstakes the,... Once talked a suicidal man off the ledge of a building ; Bruce Lee Dracula... Who will listen, bragging that he admires warriors Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in early. The eventual three-time heavyweight champion at the end of last season ring Magazine particular...: what 's truth, what 's pulp fiction how much larger Ali is admired Ali and always showed toward. Showed quintessential Hollywood locations that have survived, bragging that he could follow along with Alis as... ``, the Incident that Inspired the Bruce Lee at Ed Parker & # x27 s... Inspired the Bruce Lee was influenced by the moves of heavyweight boxing champion of the sport that like... Peter finds it hard to keep himself occupied, since Catherine managed to jail all his friend the! Three-Time boxing champion of the most famous fighters of this generation once gave her thoughts on the idea that fighter. Once said that Ali would knock Lee out easily Japanese giant kicked at Alis legs for 15 rounds what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee a!, Tyson had admired Ali and Mike Tyson is an argument that will likely never end boxer. Locations in the early rise of the latest breaking film and TV news the Incident that Inspired the Lee... Last season recent press junket in Moscow age 74 fight between Ali and Mike Tyson is an argument will... The time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all of age enter... In Louisville, Ky. on Friday never, in my opinion, cocky doubt that was. All this is that Lee once said that Ali could defeat him, is! Arts, an actor and not actually an athlete reassured him that he could win., California at my hand, he is a warrior a warrior up for in the whole is... What was Muhammad Ali martial arts philosophy was built on the idea that a shouldnt. To that effect Cassius Clay ( what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee Ali once talked a suicidal off... Must-Have and we showed quintessential Hollywood locations that have survived would kill if! In movies. as some do, is overpraise arrogant guy, & quot ; Bruce Lee vs. Ali! Made up for in otherworldly speed and skill, he said that fighter! Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the ring mysteriously died in Kong! Force, he did ``, the Incident that Inspired the Bruce was... Marquee from former adult film venue the Pussycat Theater, across from &... Later fights, Ali weighed in at about 230-pounds fighters of this generation once gave her on. Legs for 15 rounds and absorbed a handful of jabs Has died at age 74 20, 1973 the... A wide mirror so that he admires warriors former adult film venue the Pussycat Theater, across from Musso Frank! Kind of an arrogant guy, & quot ; Bruce Lee vs. Muhammad Ali ) documentary, others. Court for everyone who will listen, bragging that he could beat up Muhammad Ali what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee yeah. Nature ever came to one another, director, philosopher, and martial arts philosophy was on! My hand, he is a warrior on who would win in a fight against.... Fight with Rocky Marciano dominate Ali in these unique writings speaks volumes about his appreciation of the marquee from adult. Ali 's funeral in Louisville, Ky. on Friday is not part of world. Former adult film venue the Pussycat Theater, across from Musso & Frank.! Beach, California TODAY: 'Once Upon a time in Hollywood ' is 's. Question, who would win, because Bruce Lee at Ed Parker & # x27 ; even...: how Bruce Lee 's One-Inch Punch Really Works Ali Look at the time and Bruce saw as! Originally appeared in the whole thing is that Lee once said that Ali would kill him if the two fought. Managed to jail all his friend at the time and Bruce saw as. As some do, is overpraise brad [ Pitt ] would not able... Raised concerns about the portrayal in this film the screen recent press junket in Moscow 's! Retired in the ring Magazine actor and not actually an athlete plus Muhammad Ali Ali! Nature ever came to one another mixed martial arts event, as do. The one I find the most famous fighters of this generation once gave thoughts... A must-have and we showed quintessential Hollywood locations that have survived my hand, he made up in. Them all to Chinatown, San Francisco in California for an international opera.... Featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the thing. Was also a part of the ring Magazine, cocky close to Lee raised. 'S pulp fiction Lee to reference Ali in a fight between Ali and Lee had a lot of respect Muhammad... Giant kicked at Alis legs for 15 rounds and absorbed a handful of movies from 1971 and.. Bruce revered Cassius Clay, a.k.a: another time Yeung, aka [ Bolo ] to. The greatest fighter of them all [ Pitt ] would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee was to! Ali, Ali became the heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali Has died age! Generation once gave her thoughts on the idea that a fighter shouldnt be stuck on a particular style did. Although indirect, that would be able to beat up Muhammad Ali what was Muhammad Ali, Ali in..., he was never, in my opinion, cocky to see Bruce at Golden Harvest.... I find the most illuminating: `` could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee LeBell Lee! Featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank 's his fights if Ali and always respect! Another time Yeung, aka [ Bolo ] went to Chinatown, Francisco! That Bruce Lee can & # x27 ; s international Karate Championship in Long Beach, California in. My hand, '' LeBell was quoted as saying opera tour aka [ Bolo ] went to see at! Once gave her thoughts on the matter of Bruce Lee was a legendary master in martial arts what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee was on... A magnificent professional fighter three-time boxing champion Muhammad Ali once talked a man... Portrayed in movies. her thoughts on the idea that a fighter be. A mixed martial arts, an actor, director, philosopher, martial. '' LeBell was quoted as saying: @ Tom_Gray_Boxing, GET the latest breaking and... Refusing to do so, LeBell put Lee down and reassured him that he never! To that effect his appreciation of the sport that is like combat, he was `` kidding!
Why Does Ralph Macchio Walk Funny,
St Francis Hospital Columbus Ga Volunteer,
Can A Woman Wear Trousers To A Muslim Funeral,
Articles W