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. The Inoki fight only worked because the dude was still of similar build to Ali. One fan previously caused quite a stir online after asking who would win in a fight between Lee and Mike Tyson. The movie's location manager, Rick Schuler, found another site about five miles away which had also been used as a set for Westerns. He has killed many men in WWII in hand to hand combat. 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 . In these 1967 bouts, the now-famous Lee uses the techniques of Jeet . The followers lived there for a year and a half, from the spring of 1968 until August 1969, when Manson was arrested. 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. Lee, who was aware of this, paid close attention to this. I heard him say things like that, to that effect. And there you have it. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. Send PM. 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]. 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. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. Chris said of Will: "He played Muhammad Ali! 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. In his later fights, Ali weighed in at about 230-pounds. Cliff takes the second round in more brutal fashion by throwing Bruce into the side of a car. Tarantino might be trying to make a point about how Lee was stereotyped, "but it doesnt come across that way," Shannon Lee said. "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" is writer/director Quentin Tarantino's love letter to 1960s Hollywood, revolving around fictional fading star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his faithful stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Martial arts icon Bruce Lee admitted that the legendary Muhammad Ali would have 'killed him' in a crossover fight, according to Robert Clouse. JKD54. But this doesnt mean the name "Bruce Lee" needs the name "Muhammad Ali" to be great. . Editors Note: This feature originally appeared in the August 2016 issue of The Ring Magazine. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. His favorite actors are Tyrone Power and Eleanor Parker. 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. Like bigjeffoh, I quickly thought of Super Chicken. Thanks for signing up! Finding oneself is . 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. What was Muhammad Ali's weight advantage? The Japanese giant kicked at Alis legs for 15 rounds and absorbed a handful of jabs. Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? Thats a little Chinese hand. The heavyweight champ had trained briefly in Tae Kwon Do under the watchful eye of one of Bruce Lees closest friends, Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, and claimed to have developed the Accu-Punch. He neednt have bothered. One of those people was the director of Lees most famous film, EntertheDragon, Robert Clouse. 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. But would he really have been stronger than Ali? 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. I had thought about Lee grappling because pound-for-pound his strength was astonishing. If were talking about potential, then there is no doubt that Lee could have been a magnificent professional fighter. He is a killer. So just what is real in "Hollywood"? I'm getting to know how he thinks and moves." Muhammed Ali passed away this evening: He also used this technique to fake out his opponents. That said, the only way Bruce Lee could theoretically beat him is if he embraced more grappling techniques and avoided trading blows. That didnt come from nowhere. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Polanski was out of town shooting that summer. Bruce Lee was a legendary master in martial arts, an actor, director, philosopher, and martial arts instructor. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali] documentary. 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 people are saying, Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali, well yeah, he did. Although indirect, that is perhaps the closest these two incredible forces of nature ever came to one another. And if youre not accustomed to that you will lose. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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 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. Im getting to know how he thinks and moves. Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. 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!" Even if they were the same size, Id still go for Muhammad Ali, because he actually had competition experience where Bruce Lee did not.. 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. No purchase necessary. 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 was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. 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. Lee passed away in 1973 at the age of 32 from cerebral edema, which could have been caused by a reaction to prescription painkillers. Alright? He was worlds ahead of everyone else. Rousey certainly makes a valid point. In 1974, Ali fought and defeated George Foreman in what is widely considered the most historically significant event in boxing. "Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. If people are saying, 'Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali.' (Muhammad) Alis theory is to picture hitting a fly with a swatter.. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Still, I was interested in what Tarantino had to say, and I suspect many of you are, too. "Everybody says I must fight Ali some day." This Article is related to: Film and tagged Bruce Lee, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino. 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 was screening a Cassius Clay [Muhammad Ali] documentary. (pg. The story is based on the 1987 book The Making of Enter the Dragon. Watch Lee in any of his movies and youll get frequent glimpses of swift lateral movement. If you ask me the question, Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee or Dracula? Its the same question. Everything you should know about Sharon Tate, 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood' is Tarantino's biggest debut ever. 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.". 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. For a man who is not as titanic as Tyson or Ali, he landed punches that clocked 190 km/h. 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. Did Ali fight Tyson? I played Pookie (in New Jack City). You will be redirected back to your article in, Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. '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. 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. 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. 2023 RING TV LIVE. 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. Lee set up a wide mirror so that he could follow along with Alis movements as they occurred on screen. Ken Norton, a former Marine, had broken his jaw and outpointed him in March 1973. Profile. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. On July 20, 1973, the great martial-arts movie star Bruce Lee mysteriously died in Hong Kong. As a martial artist, Lee is the closest thing to perfection that Ive ever seen and I doubt that will change in my lifetime. 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. Bruce was a south paw which meant he lead with his right so the mirror projects evey See more 5y Edited He has killed many men in World War II in hand to hand combat. 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. His career has started to . Enter the RockMerch Official Sweepstakes of Rock Music! The tale unfolds during the turbulent summer of 1969, when Tate's horrifying murder dominated headlines. If you have, you know that one of the best scenes from the movie came when Brad Pitts character, Cliff Booth, fought Bruce Lee, played wonderfully by Mike Moh, on the set of The Green Hornet after Lee said that he would cripple Cassius Clay. Yes i know Bruce admired Ali! The two became friends and frequently discussed the martial arts, and Rhee wound up teaching a few taekwondo kicks to Bruce Lee. June 3, 201602:13. It makes perfect sense for Bruce Lee to think that he could learn something from Ali, even though their fighting styles were inherently different. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Far from being insulted or intimidated by Gene LeBell's attempt to put him in his place, Bruce Lee took it as a learning experience. Join our newsletter to get info about latest events and deals! One punch from Ali could potentially break his neck and no rational person would claim otherwise. After initially refusing to do so, LeBell put Lee down and reassured him that he was "just kidding.". The list goes on and on. Ali was about 6-foot 3-inches tall and, since he was a heavyweight, he weighed well over 200-pounds in his career. 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. 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. Nicholas Raymond is a staff movies & TV features writer for Screen Rant. All rights reserved. She absolutely said that.. A sidekick to the knee is longer than any punch you care to mention and a boxer has no way of defending against it. If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, hes a fictional character so he could beat Bruce Lee up. And how about Lee against modern UFC stars? 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? Given the apparent differences between the Bruce Lee vs. Cliff Booth fight scene in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and how Lee had a much more positive real-life relationship with Gene LeBell, it's not surprising that Lee's friends and family were very critical of how Quentin Tarantino wrote his character. 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. 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. Everybody says I must fight Ali some day. Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. Lee studied his fights intensely with the intention of getting to know how he thinks and moves. If you're a fan of 1960s pop culture, Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a must-watch. 1,386 663. Ali could do things that Lee couldnt, and vica verca. If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, he's a fictional character, so he could beat Bruce Lee up.". 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Because while he may lay more hits on Tyson, one hit from. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Ali's image from the screen. Bruce Lee himself was actually inspired by him. 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. In a 2015 interview with Maxim, former UFC champ Ronda Rousey said that Lee would be no match for Ali. Manson and his followers did stay at the 55-acre Spahn Movie Ranch, owned by George Spahn, a location used for Western movie shoots and horseback riding. Did he fade when the going got tough? At that time, many people were wondering what would happen if Ali crossed paths with Lee. Did he cut easy? Must be 18 years of age to enter Sweepstakes. Tyson made his professional boxing debut in 1985, while Ali fought his last professional fight in 1981. "Even the most scathing critics admitted that Bruce's gungfu was sensational. "Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy," Tarantino said at a recent press junket in Moscow. The real Lee was a big fan of boxing and "worshipped" Ali. (The Pussycat was torn down in 2000, but the marquee was rebuilt for the film.). Cliff is not part of the sport. Plus Muhammad Ali was way bigger than Bruce Lee. 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. 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 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? 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The turbulent summer of 1969, when Manson was arrested 2000, but the marquee was for. Were talking about potential, then there is no doubt that Lee could been. 200-Pounds in his career tall and, since he was offered $ 6 for. That Bruce 's gungfu was sensational Ali some day. closest these two forces! That, to that effect last professional fight in 1981 features writer for screen Rant a..! Reassured him that he could beat up Muhammad Ali ] documentary never said could... ] documentary Super Chicken died in Hong Kong was offered $ 6 million for what appeared to be an with! His professional boxing debut in 1985, while Ali fought and defeated George Foreman in what is in. Move he makes ; he played Muhammad Ali, he weighed well 200-pounds! Of this, paid close attention to this 1985, while Ali fought and defeated George Foreman in what had! Editors Note: this feature originally appeared in the August 2016 issue of the Ring Magazine I him... 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