Cliff is not part of the sport that is like combat, he is a warrior. He is a killer. "That doesn't give him a free pass for how he's portrayed in movies." But if Cliff and Bruce were fighting in the jungles of the Philippines in a hand-to-hand combat fight, Cliff would kill him.. June 3, 2016, 9:38 PM. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali never fought inside the squared circle. "That's a little Chinese hand. The influence Ali had on him is undeniable. 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. Tarantino featured the 100-year-old Musso & Frank Grill and other famed Hollywood Boulevard locations in the film. Gavin Evans is a contributor for Complex Media. "Bruce Lee was mainly Wing Chun, combined with Muhammad Ali-style boxing," Chan said. He had a lasting influence on boxers everywhere, but the impact he had extended far outside his field. Cliff takes the second round in more brutal fashion by throwing Bruce into the side of a car. Its a fictional character. He comes across as an arrogant (expletive) who was full of hot air, she told The Wrap. Bruce was fighting in Ali's shoes. Look at my hand, he said. Bruce Lee's father Lee Hoi-chuen was a famous Cantonese opera singer based in Hong Kong. Brad [Pitt] would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee, but Cliff maybe could. One of the two doesnt need the other to be great. "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. 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. Some people thought Lee would be able to dominate Ali in a fight, while others argued Ali would knock Lee out easily. More so, Bruce Lee certainly didnt ever think that he could beat Muhammad Ali if the two actually ever fought in real life. "I was very lucky to . 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. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali.Bruces right hand followed Alis right hand, Alis left foot followed Bruces left foot. Bruce was screening a Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) documentary. Brad would not be able to beat up Bruce Lee, but Cliff maybe could, Tarantino said. In 1981, world famous boxer Muhammad Ali once talked a suicidal man off the ledge of a building. "That was a must-have and we showed quintessential Hollywood locations that have survived. 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. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Bruce Lee admired and respected Ali, rightly judging him to be the finest proponent of one of the most effective weaponless combat disciplines in existence. He likely has more accurate strikes, and is significantly more durable. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! This philosophy was arguably the precursor to mixed martial arts. What would Ali have made of Lee? "Even the most scathing critics admitted that Bruce's gungfu was sensational. And there you have it. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Bruce Lee, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Bruce Lee was a legendary master in martial arts, an actor, director, philosopher, and martial arts instructor. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. 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. 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! I saw it in Thailand. But would he really have been stronger than Ali? Maybe he was cocky in as far as martial arts because he was very sure of himself. 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? "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. There's been a lot of discussion about that character's portrayal in the film, and at a recent press conference in Moscow, Tarantino himself weighed in on the Bruce Lee controversy but he may have just dug himself a slightly deeper hole. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Bruce Lee was a man who could flow like water, scream like an animal, and spin some nunchucks like nobody's business. There's a glimpse of the marquee from former adult film venue The Pussycat Theater, across from Musso & Frank's. Ali was later hospitalized with blood clots. (pg. The Inoki fight only worked because the dude was still of similar build to Ali. 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. Ali probably never heard of Lee during Lee's lifetime. Im getting to know how he thinks and moves. Bruce knew he could never win a fight against Ali. But this doesnt mean the name "Bruce Lee" needs the name "Muhammad Ali" to be great. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. She absolutely said that, the director continued. To credit this as a mixed martial arts event, as some do, is overpraise. Bruce set up a wide full-length mirror to reflect Alis image from the screen. The event was the Long Beach International Karate Championships, where three years earlier Lee's demonstration of such improbable physical feats as two-finger push-ups and one-inch punches got him the attention in the U.S. that led to the role of Kato on The Green Hornet. At that time, many people were wondering what would happen if Ali crossed paths with Lee. "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). Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is now playing in theaters. He'd kill me.". 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. The legendary boxer remains an icon who stands tall in the history of the sport. Personally, I feel that Benny Urquidez, a legendary multi-weight world champion in full-contact martial arts, would have been too much for Lee. Bruce was looking into the mirror, moving along with Ali. Well, yeah, he did. Could Cliff beat up Bruce Lee? With that in mind, Lee started training with LeBell as both men developed a friendship that would last until Lee's death in 1973. With his crazy kicks and lightning-fast speed, the man went from TV sidekick to blockbuster star in just a few years. Search. 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. There just happens to be a difference between those types of encounters and a showdown against a combat athlete. Bruce set up a wide full-length. Muhammad Ali would win, because Bruce Lee was an actor and not actually an athlete. 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 . Why? Filmmakers were able to re-create "pretty much building-for-building what Spahn Ranch used to look like," says Schuler. If Bruce Lee truly believed that Ali could defeat him, that would be reason enough for Lee to take inspiration from him. In the past, Lee claimed that if he ever met Ali, he would be assassinated. Bruce Lee on the left and prime Mike Tyson on the far right, red line marks Goku's height. I played Pookie (in New Jack City). Many people close to Lee have raised concerns about the portrayal in this film. But more than 40 years later, Lee vs. Ali is still a debate that peoplelove to have. While filming a movie, Chan recalled when Lee appeared and started doing his thing. Join our newsletter to get info about latest events and deals! An entire cottage industry was created after his death to essentially clone him through impersonation Bruce Le and Bruce Li were the two most prominent imitators in film. Another time Yeung, aka [Bolo] went to see Bruce at Golden Harvest Studios. 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? Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Is what he admires are warriors. Polanski was out of town shooting that summer. 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. The two became friends and frequently discussed the martial arts, and Rhee wound up teaching a few taekwondo kicks to Bruce Lee. Lee was referring to Alis dancing legs and the Ali shuffle, which he became known for in the ring. All rights reserved. The story of Ali was unearthed in the 1970s by Mass Appeal. 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. In his later fights, Ali weighed in at about 230-pounds. The world is mentally preparing for Ali's funeral in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, but before it takes place, there are going to be a lot of great Ali stories that are told. Your destination for the best boxing news, videos and live streams! Quentin Tarantino broke his silence on the backlash to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood during the films recent Moscow press conference. 1,386 663. Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Everybody says I must fight Ali some day, Bruce said, Im studying every move he makes. Naturally, were talking about Bruce Lee. Lee studied his fights intensely with the intention of getting to know how he thinks and moves. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. They share an almost mystical fan affection because of their unique skills, which are sometimes overlooked because of their impact on worldwide culture. He admires combat, and boxing is a closer approximation of combat as a sport. In a 2015 interview with Maxim, former UFC champ Ronda Rousey said that Lee would be no match for Ali. If I say Cliff can beat Bruce Lee up, he's a fictional character, so he could beat Bruce Lee up.". 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. Lee was all about taking care of business on the street in seconds. Almost 8,000 miles away, in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, Muhammad Ali was training hard to avenge his second professional defeat. He takes to hunting, cooking and fathering more children, but is haunted by . 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. "Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee are the most recognizable faces in the world," Inosanto says. In these 1967 bouts, the now-famous Lee uses the techniques of Jeet . 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. However, much of the setup is accurate. 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. 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. Cliff is not part of the sport. The one thing that cannot be ignored in all this is that Lee was not a professional fighter. Bruces right hand followed Alis right hand, Alis left foot followed Bruces left foot. Ask yourself, did he have a good chin? -- One of the greatest . I'm getting to know how he thinks and moves. If people are saying, Well he never said he could beat up Muhammad Ali, well yeah, he did. I'm getting to know how he thinks and moves." It is a whip rather than a club. She absolutely said that.. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. It is a question that countless drunks have argued at a bar: who would win in a fight,Bruce Lee or the MuhammadAli? "Bruce's right hand followed Ali's right hand, Ali's left foot followed Bruce's left foot. Besides, Ronda Rouseytold Maximlast year that Ali would absolutely crush Lee in a street fight. 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." "The way he was talking, I didn't just make a lot of that up. His conclusion? Bruce Lee's exact age would be 81 years 5 months 15 days old if alive. Thats a little Chinese hand. Peter finds it hard to keep himself occupied, since Catherine managed to jail all his friend at the end of last season. The Bruce Lee conversation surrounding this movie has become somewhat fraught: the scene is a vortex of discussions about Asian representation on screen, whether a cinematic icon has been given the proper amount of respect, and why Tarantino chose to use Lee in the first place, just to name a few. Ali was also a part of the famous simulated fight with Rocky Marciano. In 1972, Lee appeared on the Dick Cavett Show alongside Ali and gave glowing praise of his martial arts ability. And then we remembered something important: We know Bruce Lee's biographer. Because he was offered $6 million for what appeared to be an exhibition with a joke-laden buildup. 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. The documentary showed Ali in several of his fights. His career has started to . One critic wrote: 'Those who watched him would bet on Lee to render Cassius Clay senseless if they were put in a room and told that anything goes." After initially refusing to do so, LeBell put Lee down and reassured him that he was "just kidding.". "Ali was world heavyweight champion at the time and Bruce saw him as the greatest fighter of them all. Muhammad Ali is the GOAT of boxing. Send PM. If people are saying, Well he never said he could beat up Mohammad Ali, well yeah he did. Here are answers to the major questions. The Japanese giant kicked at Alis legs for 15 rounds and absorbed a handful of jabs. 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 .

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