Bruce Lee had the conditioning of an Olympian. Ali, had the conditioning of a master boxer. I believe the conditioning aspect is equal between the two. Ali, has the punching power and reach. Although, Bruce lee, like Ali would have a considerable amount of punching power. This fight, however, would play out much like a street fight, at least in my mind. Bruce Lee would not try and outlast Ali. Bruce Lee devoted his life to fighting like Ali, but unlike Ali, Lee strived to understand the philosophy behind fighting. Ali trained and conditioned himself to outlast his opponent. Bruce Lee conditioned himself to outlast his opponent as well, but trained to beat his opponent as quickly as possible. Bruce Lee would most likely be going for grapples or key points like the knee's. I doubt very highly that Ali knew anything about wrestling, grappling or submitions. They both knew how to fight, but Bruce Lee knew how to incapacitate. Ali was a boxer, he did not train in and study numerous other martial arts. If you read Jeet Kune Do, it is an MMA style of fighting.
Many will say, but bruce Lee didn't fight professionally or even at all. This is true, but his life was devoted to fighting, more so than Ali. Everything, including his family took a back seat to the art of fighting. He trained intensely 8-10 hours a day, spared and taught his knowledge. The first 18 years of his life was devoted to a street fighting gang.
I would definitely say the odds are in Bruce's corner, but Ali's punching power and endurance is not something that can be overlooked either. Perhaps, Ali would have been able to endure a strong grapple or submition. With one solid punch, Ali could Knock Bruce Lee out, but the same goes goes for Bruce lee.
This is certainly much like the Hulk VS Superman debate to comic fans. lol
that was somewhat my thoughts, though I'm sure its been covered in 110 pages
they may both be equal on training and physical fitness, I'd contend that the type of fighting they do would sort of make them unequal competitors.
If it was boxing rules, in a ring, does anyone think Bruce Lee would win? Not that he isn't a good boxer or fighter, just that stylistically and in all his other fights, he would have used different strikes and stances. He would be at a disadvantage just following the rules.
Similarly, Ali would be hugely disadvantaged in any fight that isn't boxing. Not that he isn't a good fighter, just that he doesn't train on how to deal with low kicks or thigh shots, or grapples.
I'd like to see Tyson vs Ali, though with the use of some time machines so that they can both fight while they were in their prime (and, coincidentally, in jail)
afaik, Lee is/was the best MA fighter to date... Though I know nothing of it, so I'm probably ignorant.
Only problem with that is that that Ali's abilty to deal with low kicks wouldn't be an issue, as by the time the diminutive Bruce Lee got anywhere near striking range, the fast, and very reachy Ali would have already battered him senseless, having the range/reach advantage. (Not to mention the weight and power advantages.)
Also, Ali could kick, Knee elbow, grapple as dirty as he likes without the restriction of Boxing rules.
I doubt that the nine stone Lee, even if if he could somehow negate the distance/reach problem, could have knocked out Ali.
No way did Lee punch harder than George Foreman, Joe Frazier etc and he wouldn't be in the fight long enough to hope that an accumalative effect would take hold.
Originally posted by Robtard
What if Lee were allowed a scalding hot pot of tasteless tea, like the ones they give you at your local Chinese hole-in-the-wall restuarant, what then?-Edit
Like one of these, filled with hot tea, to be used as a weapon.
Mmmmmmm. Against a blind and hideously scalded Ali, Lee would be in with a chance, I do have to concede.
But Ali in steamroller with Bruce tied to the floor by the wrists and ankles
would be an equally decisive victory. 😛
I like the eloquence and viciousness of the tea ambush though.
Originally posted by Robtard
He could dodge, or sidestep and then counter. I'm pretty sure they teach you that in boxing.
I don't care how fast Ali is, Bruce Lee is way faster,
Ali is my favourite boxer of all time, I have done boxing my whole life so it's not as if I think Martial Arts are better than just regular boxing. I am just looking at this logically and if you threw those two guys in a cage Bruce Lee would win 9 times out of 10.
Originally posted by ScarletSpeed
I don't care how fast Ali is, Bruce Lee is way faster,Ali is my favourite boxer of all time, I have done boxing my whole life so it's not as if I think Martial Arts are better than just regular boxing. I am just looking at this logically and if you threw those two guys in a cage Bruce Lee would win 9 times out of 10.
I did my fair share of "Lee would kick ass" in this thread, because I am a Lee fanboy, but lets face it, Ali has just about every advantage over Lee, strength, reach, toughness and most importantly, proven real-time fights.
Edit: Lee could out philosophize Ali though, that "be like water" bit was profound.
Originally posted by ScarletSpeed
I don't care how fast Ali is, Bruce Lee is way faster,Ali is my favourite boxer of all time, I have done boxing my whole life so it's not as if I think Martial Arts are better than just regular boxing. I am just looking at this logically and if you threw those two guys in a cage Bruce Lee would win 9 times out of 10.
Then if you have sparred at all with even a really good light-welter and then with a heavyweight -a light hitting one even- then you'll know why a 9 stone comparative midget would not withstand the Ali who fought Cleaveland Williams. He was as fast as Bruce Lee on that particular occasion. It'd be like a rottweiler savaging a ragdoll once Ali got hold of him. And all rules off, in a fight to the death, he'd probably just punch Lee in the throat. His jab alone would give Lee problems.
Robtard is right.