Me and my friend were having a debate the other day about who would win out of Bruce Lee and Muhammed Ali.
Well in summary here was our debate:
I said Ali because he’s got the size advantage, lots of experience in the ring, he wasn’t just a fighter but he was also a thinker, good footwork and that boxers tend to have more physical training than MAers.
He said Lee because he’s alot smaller and faster, also good footwork, his MA training was more ‘streetwise’, never runs out of steam (duh, boxers also have lots of stamina), powerful kicks that Muhammed Ali supposedly wouldn’t be able to dodge because he’s not use to kicks and his experience in streetfighting as a kid.
What do you guys think? Please back me up here a little, i want to be able to come back to school on Monday and shove a whole bunch of crap down his throat.
Bruce studied the ground game and kicking. Kicking and groundwork can beat a straight boxer any day. Leg kicks & takedowns would be the name of the game. I am sure Bruce has some punching skills but that would only give him a 50/50 against the “greatest” if they are gloved. Bareknuckle might change things since its all about that first hit powerful hit… I think Bruce would be able to sneak in more shots bareknuckle and end up stunning Ali.
Reason??? Ali boxing was that of a light weight. He was a trained professional and experienced. U’re talking about a guy who has been hit by powerhouses( Sonny Liston, Frazier and Foreman ). His body was very well conditioned. He had incredible hand speed. Could Bruce beat him standup? Hell no! With what…a side kick…snap kick to the groin maybe. But in a slugfest…it’s over…Bruce is down…body build…size etc…that is REALITY. Can Bruce take the fight to the ground…yes…but in all indications…his past real fights alwayz started with him striking. And that would have been his demise. There is no doubt that Bruce Lee can fight…but against a trained professional fighter…YIKEs.
I dunno what Ali’s record was on the street. But Lee beat all the boxers he fought. Ask James Demile who was the army heavyweight champion.
Anyone see the Ali vs Inoki match? see how Ali was abolutely clueless in handling low licks and ground attacks.
Ali’s experience wasn’t limited to just boxers. He fought a jujitsu fighter (I think) in his time. He was a fantastic fighter. Bruce knew how to hype himself up. I belive Ali would win because he had more Ringtime than Bruce.
Its common sense. The fighter will always win. Its like putting Jackie Chan in the ring with Roy Jones Jr. Jackie can act, but will get his face pounded by Roy.
My dream cross over fight would be Roy Jones Jr. v.s. Mirko Cro-Cop. I say Roy would win in decision.
Ali didn’t exactly fight a Jiujitsuka. He “fought” a charity match against Japanese Professional Wrestler Antonio Inoki (who didn’t use any Jiujitsu).
Who would win? Impossible to say. Bruce would likely have used low kicks to good effect (anyone who says Bruce couldn’t kick, at least by the time he had developed his Jeet Kune Do, doesn’t know what they’re saying).
If Ali were to close the distance though, Bruce would be in deep trouble.
Interesting speculation all around but we’ll never really know, will we?
