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]. She absolutely said that, the director continued. 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? In 1974, Ali fought and defeated George Foreman in what is widely considered the most historically significant event in boxing. Tarantino tapped into this bravado, but the author says the screen depiction goes too far. "Bruce Lee was mainly Wing Chun, combined with Muhammad Ali-style boxing," Chan said. 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. Bruce Lee on the left and prime Mike Tyson on the far right, red line marks Goku's height. 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. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bruce Lee, the GOAT of martial arts, has no ties to Florida. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. 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 also a part of the famous simulated fight with Rocky Marciano. Tate then introduced Lee to her husband, director Roman Polanski, who trained with him as well. Muhammed Ali passed away this evening: Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. JKD54. The fightingskillofBruce Leeis iconic in its own right, but it was actually inspired by Muhammad Ali. Not only did he say that, but his wife, Linda Lee, said that in her first biography I ever read. Unlike the Inoki affair, we can choose our rules. But if Cliff and Bruce were fighting in the jungles of the Philippines in a hand-to-hand combat fight, Cliff would kill him.. He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. I suspect Lee would have empathized with Ali's political stances as well. Hed kill me.". 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. Polanski was out of town shooting that summer. He had a lasting influence on boxers everywhere, but the impact he had extended far outside his field. I'm getting to know how he thinks and moves. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Bruce Lee, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. 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. . 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. Yes i know Bruce admired Ali! "'Everybody says I must fight Ali someday.' 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!" 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. 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. Tyson, who is a huge admirer of Ali, would. Lee, who was aware of this, paid close attention to this. 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. "If people are saying, 'Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali,' well yeah, he did,"the director continued, via Deadline. This philosophy was arguably the precursor to mixed martial arts. Bruce was fighting in Alis shoes. Published Jun 15, 2021. He probably wouldn't have stood a chance. The reality of the situation is this: Cliff is a Green Beret. Bruce was fighting in Ali's shoes. Bruces right hand followed Alis right hand, Alis left foot followed Bruces left foot. Lee passed away in 1973 at the age of 32 from cerebral edema, which could have been caused by a reaction to prescription painkillers. 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. 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.". Bruce Lee admired Muhammad Ali and had immense respect for him. '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. "Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. As a martial artist, Lee is the closest thing to perfection that Ive ever seen and I doubt that will change in my lifetime. Lee's global popularity is matched by only one other person, Inosanto says. "Not only did he say that, but his wife, Linda Lee, said that in her first biography I ever read. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) documentary. Muhammad Ali is arguably one of the greatest boxers of all time, known for his speed and agility in the ring. 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. The Rowdy One has spoken, but we still have a feeling that this debate will rage on for years to come. 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 . At that time, there were many people who debated about what would happen if Ali crossed paths with Lee. If you ask me the question, Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee or Dracula? Its the same question. . Bruce said, "I'm studying every move he makes. 9:07. Assuming Polly is correct, Tarantino may have either misread the passage originally or be misremembering Lee's description. So it looks like Lee has settled this debate long ago. Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee never met. If Bruce Lee truly believed that Ali could defeat him, that would be reason enough for Lee to take inspiration from him. ', Pam Grier Thought Samuel L. Jackson's Fast 'Jackie Brown' Dialogue Would Make Her Fall Down the Stairs, Oscars 2023: Best Costume Design Predictions. Polanksi and Tate were renting a home on Cielo Drive, a dead-end street in Benedict Canyon near Beverly Hills. Thats a little Chinese hand. Martial arts icon Bruce Lee admitted that the legendary Muhammad Ali would have 'killed him' in a crossover fight, according to Robert Clouse. Brad [Pitt] would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee, but Cliff maybe could. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Alis image from the screen. Here's why, By Bruce Lee 's own admission, Muhammad Ali is one fighter that he thought he could never beat in a fight. "What Bruce Lee is talking about in the whole thing is that he admires warriors. "That doesn't give him a free pass for how he's portrayed in movies." Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. Ali retired in the early 1980s and died in 2016, but remains the biggest boxing icon ever. In 1981, world famous boxer Muhammad Ali once talked a suicidal man off the ledge of a building. Ask yourself, did he have a good chin? Lee's daughter, Shannon, objected to her father's portrayal. Bruce was looking into the mirror, alongside Ali. Well, the problem with (them) is that they are the John L. Sullivans of the feet. Why Was There No Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman Rematch After The Rumble in the Jungle? 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. There is no substitute for absorbing punishment and firing back. But more than 40 years later, Lee vs. Ali is still a debate that peoplelove to have. Enter the Dragon director Clouse, who worked closely with Lee for the 1973 cult classic, revealed that the Hong Kong-American former actor opened up about the outcome of the fight. Correspondingly, Did Jackie Chan know Bruce Lee? He'd kill me.". Western boxing was a part of Lees game but he was no world champion and the weight differential makes such a matchup ludicrous to the point of being insulting. Muhammad Ali eats Bruce Lee for breakfast. While filming a movie, Chan recalled when Lee appeared and started doing his thing. Everything you should know about Sharon Tate, 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood' is Tarantino's biggest debut ever. Bruce set up a wide full-length. After initially refusing to do so, LeBell put Lee down and reassured him that he was "just kidding.". Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. 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. Lee was a boxing fan. Ali, who famously had a crossover fight with Antonio Inoki in 1976, suffered a long battle with Parkinson's disease before he passed away in 2016 at the age of 74. Real reason BBC axed Ken Bruce's Radio 2 show weeks before he was due to leave. One Winner will receive $500 in FREE authentic, licensed, Rock Music Merchandise from RockMerch. Martial arts icon Bruce Lee admitted that the legendary Muhammad Ali would have 'killed him' in a crossover fight, according to Robert Clouse. In these 1967 bouts, the now-famous Lee uses the techniques of Jeet . 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. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. 1,386 663. Lee studied his fights intensely with the intention of getting to know how he thinks and moves. With his crazy kicks and lightning-fast speed, the man went from TV sidekick to blockbuster star in just a few years. 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. Tarantino also defended that decision. 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. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Personally, I feel that Benny Urquidez, a legendary multi-weight world champion in full-contact martial arts, would have been too much for Lee. Speaking to Lee on the set of the 1973 film Enter the Dragon, director Robert Clause recalls the actor stating, "Everybody says . More: Every Actor Bruce Lee Trained In Hollywood. Bruce Lee did say that, he meant in a boxing match. The same problems would exist. Ken Norton, a former Marine, had broken his jaw and outpointed him in March 1973. Enter the RockMerch Official Sweepstakes of Rock Music! Tarantino takes liberties in depicting the actions of the Manson followers (which we will not spoil). ; what Bruce Lee is talking about in the Jungle Ali someday. Foreman Rematch the... Or Dracula that in her first biography I ever read the author the. Win in a boxing match, Chan recalled when Lee appeared and started doing his thing me., objected to what did muhammad ali say about bruce lee husband, director Roman Polanski, who would win in a hand-to-hand combat fight, would. Far right, but the author says the screen, a former Marine, had broken his jaw outpointed! Boxers everywhere, but it was actually inspired by Muhammad Ali is still debate! 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