Martial arts icon Bruce Lee admitted that the legendary Muhammad Ali would have 'killed him' in a crossover fight, according to Robert Clouse. The up-and-coming martial arts star Lee did befriend Tate and trained the actress for 1968's "The Wrecking Crew," according to Polly. Lee was a boxing fan. Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? "The reality of the situation is this: Cliff is a Green Beret. ', "Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. In 1972, Lee appeared on the Dick Cavett Show alongside Ali and gave glowing praise of his martial arts ability. 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. Brad [Pitt] would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee, but Cliff maybe could, said Tarantino. Tate then introduced Lee to her husband, director Roman Polanski, who trained with him as well. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. That didnt come from nowhere. 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. If Lee can use legs, then he has the power, skill and quickness to hurt Ali badly. . "Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee are the most recognizable faces in the world," Inosanto says. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. In this scene, Booth takes exception to Lee's claim that he can "cripple" Muhammad Ali if they ever got the chance to duke it out. 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. Bruce was looking into the mirror, alongside Ali. In a straight boxing match, Lee, a 5-foot-7 lightweight, or junior welterweight at best, would have no chance. The same problems would exist. If you havent seen Quentin Tarantinos OnceUponaTimeinHollywood yet, go ahead and skip to the next section. Did he cut easy? Many people close to Lee have raised concerns about the portrayal in this film. I'm getting to know how he thinks and moves." 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.. . 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. 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. What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing? 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. Ali has the height, weight, and reach advantage over Lee, but Lee has an ace up his sleeve. Ali was later hospitalized with blood clots. Have you seen kickboxing? He'd kill me.'". It is a question that countless drunks have argued at a bar: who would win in a fight,Bruce Lee or the MuhammadAli? Lee passed away in 1973 at the age of 32. If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, hes a fictional character so he could beat Bruce Lee up. "It was all in the way he moved - the way he moved made him famous. During the chat, Lee can be heard referencing boxers for the first and, as far as this reporter is aware, only time in terms of available audio. All rights reserved. When Bruce Lee was younger, he predicted Muhammad Ali would kill him. Hed kill me.'. 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. Quentin Tarantino broke his silence on the backlash to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood during the films recent Moscow press conference. 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. Everybody says I must fight Ali some day, Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. In June 1976, he ventured to Japan to take on a famous wrestler named Antonio Inoki. I read more of the quote somewhere online years ago, can't remember where, sorry. "That was a must-have and we showed quintessential Hollywood locations that have survived. Bruce Lee's exact age would be 81 years 5 months 15 days old if alive. Brad would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee, but Cliff maybe could, Tarantino said. The influence Ali had on him is undeniable. ", 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 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. No purchase necessary. "Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Ali fought outside of boxing rules only once and it was an unmitigated disaster. 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. The movie's location manager, Rick Schuler, found another site about five miles away which had also been used as a set for Westerns. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! In these 1967 bouts, the now-famous Lee uses the techniques of Jeet . Instead of simply doing as he was instructed, LeBell grabbed Lee and placed him on his shoulders, running around the set as the Kato actor supposedly asked the judo expert to "put me down or I'll kill you!" In 1974, Ali fought and defeated George Foreman in what is widely considered the most historically significant event in boxing. 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. Providing the egos didnt clash, this would have been a match made in heaven. Because he was a brilliant and seasoned professional who took hits for a living. Lee then challenges the stuntman to a best-of-three fight that ultimately ends in a draw when a stunt coordinator(Zoe Bell)angrily puts a stop to the "friendly contest.". "What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. Tarantino also defended that decision. Hed kill me.". Published Oct 3, 2021 Bruce Lee, who always had great confidence in his kung fu skills, admitted there was one fighter he knew he couldn't beat - Muhammad Ali. Profile. Published Jun 15, 2021. And it was apparently a conversation that Lee himself had with one of his directors. 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? At that time, many people were wondering what would happen if Ali crossed paths with 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. Its a fictional character. Real reason BBC axed Ken Bruce's Radio 2 show weeks before he was due to leave. Tarantino featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the 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 is introduced holding court for everyone who will listen, bragging that he could beat boxing champ Cassius Clay, a.k.a. Bruce Lee was tiny, and Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight! 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. Here are answers to the major questions. Bruce Lee can't even use most of his kicks, because of how much larger Ali is. Bruce challenges Cliff to a three round fight, easily winning the first round by kicking Cliff to the floor within seconds. "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. 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. On July 20, 1973, the great martial-arts movie star Bruce Lee mysteriously died in Hong Kong. Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. One of those people was the director of Lees most famous film, EntertheDragon, Robert Clouse. 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.". COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) documentary. 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. His career has started to . Tarantino takes liberties in depicting the actions of the Manson followers (which we will not spoil). I had thought about Lee grappling because pound-for-pound his strength was astonishing. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Alis image from the screen. If were talking about potential, then there is no doubt that Lee could have been a magnificent professional fighter. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Ali's image from the screen. June 3, 201602:13. Bruce Lee, is another legendary fighter, actor, and founder of Jeet Kune Do, a martial arts philosophy. Total 29,751 days. Assuming Polly is correct, Tarantino may have either misread the passage originally or be misremembering Lee's description. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. . Lee passed away in 1973 at the age of 32 from cerebral edema, which could have been caused by a reaction to prescription painkillers. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood': What's truth, what's pulp fiction? "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 . A wonderful, wonderful man and a great martial artist.". "That doesn't give him a free pass for how he's portrayed in movies." Alright? 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]." 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. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. 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. Cadwell found the depiction to be "just . It is a whip rather than a club. 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. Thats a little Chinese hand. Lees daughter, Shannon Lee, and his protg and training partner Dan Inosanto aired their grievances with the scene to Variety in July. 1,386 663. Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywoodfeatures Lee in a small role (played by actor Mike Moh), and after the film was released,Lee's daughter objected to the way her father was depicted on screen. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. But would he really have been stronger than Ali? "Bruce Lee would have never said anything derogatory about Muhammad Ali because he worshiped the ground Muhammad Ali walked on. Ali's the greatest there's ever been." Tyson was the youngest heavyweight champion of all-time at 20 years old. 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. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Ali's image from the screen. Speaking to Lee on the set of the 1973 film Enter the Dragon, director Robert Clause recalls the actor stating, "Everybody says . In the past, Lee claimed that if he ever met Ali, he would be assassinated. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Bruce Lee, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino. 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. Tarantino tapped into this bravado, but the author says the screen depiction goes too far. 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Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Ali's image from the screen. The story of Ali was unearthed in the 1970s by Mass Appeal. Lee's global popularity is matched by only one other person, 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. The two became friends and frequently discussed the martial arts, and Rhee wound up teaching a few taekwondo kicks to Bruce Lee. Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali never fought inside the squared circle. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! It makes perfect sense for Bruce Lee to think that he could learn something from Ali, even though their fighting styles were inherently different. Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. Bruce Lee was a man who could flow like water, scream like an animal, and spin some nunchucks like nobody's business. The one thing that cannot be ignored in all this is that Lee was not a professional fighter. The French Normandy-style house where the murders took place was destroyed in 1994. In a 2015 interview with Maxim, former UFC champ Ronda Rousey said that Lee would be no match for Ali. JKD54. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. I heard him say things like that to that effect. George Dillman, who trained with both the People's Champion and Bruce Lee, revealed the two icons then went antique shopping after the King of Rock and Roll sobered up. One fan previously caused quite a stir online after asking who would win in a fight between Lee and Mike Tyson. The fightingskillofBruce Leeis iconic in its own right, but it was actually inspired by Muhammad Ali. (Given that Dalton is fictional, his house obviously wasn't next door.). But throughout his life, Tyson had admired Ali and always showed respect toward. I heard him say things like that, to that effect. 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. He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. 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. '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. 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. Post Jun 04, 2016 #2 2016-06-04T05:37. And if youre not accustomed to that you will lose. Ali was about 6-foot 3-inches tall and, since he was a heavyweight, he weighed well over 200-pounds in his career. More so, Bruce Lee certainly didnt ever think that he could beat Muhammad Ali if the two actually ever fought in real life. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. Tyson made his professional boxing debut in 1985, while Ali fought his last professional fight in 1981. 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. 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. Muhammad Ali is the GOAT of boxing. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. If you ask me the question, Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee or Dracula? Its the same question. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. "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. One of the biggest points of controversy surrounding the film is the scene in which Bruce Lee (Mike Moh) and Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) fight each other on the set of The Green Hornet. Bruce Lees daughter, Shannon, condemned Tarantino for portraying the martial arts legend as an arrogant asshole who was full of hot air, while Lees protg Dan Inosanto said the film did not accurately portray the late action star. On the other hand, Bruce Lee was a martial artist, a discipline known for its intricate techniques and strategies. Warning:Spoilers ahead for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.". Muhammad Ali is frequently dubbed as one of the "Greatest of All Time". The followers lived there for a year and a half, from the spring of 1968 until August 1969, when Manson was arrested. If people are saying, Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali, well yeah, he did. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. 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 . Enter the Sweepstakes and receive the RockMerch newsletter with exclusive product discounts. "The Green Hornet" ran from 1966-67, so the assorted stunt guys should know better than to still call Ali by the name. Although indirect, that is perhaps the closest these two incredible forces of nature ever came to one another. 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. The three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer died this evening," Bob Gunnell . Not only did he say that but his wife, Linda Lee, said that in her first biography I ever read. 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. Tyson, who is a huge admirer of Ali, would. There just happens to be a difference between those types of encounters and a showdown against a combat athlete. The four friends did dine at the Hollywood landmark El Coyote on the night of the murders before going back to Tate's home. Lee actually incorporated Alis footwork into his own fighting style. Bruce's right hand followed Ali's right hand, Ali's left foot followed Bruce's left foot. Muhammad Ali would win, because Bruce Lee was an actor and not actually an athlete. 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. 2023 RING TV LIVE. Cliff is not part of the sport. 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. Lees widow, Linda Lee Cadwell, recalls The Dragon diligently studying Ali, as well as countless other boxing champions, on 8-millimeter film. But if Cliff and Bruce were fighting in the jungles of the Philippines in a hand-to-hand combat fight, Cliff would kill him.. To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-n1h13z{color:black;color:#fff;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-n1h13z{color:#fff;}}Published15:16,09 January 2020 GMT.css-qdg7d1{color:#72B97D;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-qdg7d1{color:#72B97D;}}| Last updated23:14,09 January 2020 GMT. If people are saying, Well he never said he could beat up Mohammad Ali, well yeah he did. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. So yeah, Lee was probably right. 4 He is a combat person., Tarantino concluded, If Cliff were fighting Bruce Lee in a martial arts tournament in Madison Square Garden, Bruce would kill him. Lee studied his fights intensely with the intention of getting to know how he thinks and moves. That said, the only way Bruce Lee could theoretically beat him is if he embraced more grappling techniques and avoided trading blows. His favorite actors are Tyrone Power and Eleanor Parker. I heard him say things like that to that effect. He might have looked like a zen martial-arts master, but off-screen Lee was a brash, trash-talking fighter prone to quarrels, according to Matthew Polly, author of the biography "Bruce Lee: A Life." Nicholas Raymond is a staff movies & TV features writer for Screen Rant. Yes i know Bruce admired Ali! Like Ali, Lee was electric when he got up on his toes and his grace was something to behold. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. You will be redirected back to your article in, Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. . 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. So if Cliff were fighting Bruce Lee in a martial arts tournament in Madison Square Garden, Bruce Lee would kill him. Offline. 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