How to Beat Mike Tyson in Punch Out

Last Updated: July 21, 2021

Punch-Out is one of the most notable boxing video games for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The game was released in 1987 and follows the journey of Little Mac to beat Kid Dynamite, Mike Tyson in the Dream Fight. Iron Mike is widely regarded as one of the hardest hitters in the sport of boxing but also as one of the toughest final bosses in video game history.^{[1]
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Beating Mike carries a certain achievement in the gaming world that those who haven’t pulled off the feat could only imagine the glory. In this strategy guide, you will learn how to beat Mike Tyson on the NES with the easiest strategy. Steps will probably need to be repeated over and over again because of the difficulty of the task. Just remember to digest the trial and error, or else you’ll feel Tyson’s uppercut through the screen!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Gathering the Materials and Learning the Basics

1
Connect to a television. Connect and set up the NES with the game cartridge to an old plasma TV or an HDTV that has a "game mode" to ensure the least amount of input delay or video shuttering.
2
Go straight to the fight. Enter the code “007 373 5963” in the main menu with the gamepad to enter the Dream Fight. Restart the system and enter the code again if you fail to perform the following steps.

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3
Learn the quick dodge. Dodge every one of Mike Tyson’s punch with the quick dodge. Press the D-Pad left or right firmly to perform a normal dodge but press the D-Pad left or right quickly to perform the necessary quick dodge.
4
Learn to counter the uppercuts. Following a successful uppercut dodge, always counterpunch with two punches with the hand corresponding to the direction that Mike is facing.
- Punch high with the left hand if he’s looking to the right.
- Punch high with the right hand if he’s looking to the left.
- In other words, use the right-hand punch if Tyson throws a left-hand punch and vice versa.
5
Perform the necessary high punches. Hold the D-Pad up and press the B button on the gamepad to perform a left-hand punch. Hold the D-Pad up and press A button on the gamepad to perform a right-hand punch.
6
Focus on Tyson. React and quick dodge appropriately to what Tyson does in the frame. Don’t dodge and punch based on the patterns of Tyson’s punches. Dodge punches with the D-Pad in the moment as opposed to anticipation.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Round 1 of the Dream Fight

1
Beat the uppercuts of the initial 1:30 of the first round. Quick dodge and counterpunch Tyson’s consecutive uppercuts in the first half of the round to avoid an instant knockdown.
- Perform the quick dodge in the frame at which Tyson’s spirit suddenly flashes blue and then perform a counter right or left after dodging.
- Attack Tyson’s opposite side only twice after a successful uppercut dodge to deal double the damage.
2
Win the 1:30 to 3:00 mark of the first round. Quick dodge and counter the less powerful hooks of Tyson with the same movements from the first half of the round. Perform the quick dodge in the frames at which Tyson blinks one of his eyes and then quickly follow up with a left-right or one-two.
3
Finish the first round. Perform the only knockdown(s) before the 2:00 mark of the first round if possible. Reduce Tyson’s stamina as much as possible before the end of the round by dodging and punching as necessary. Hold off on counter punching to keep Tyson’s health low and keep his health close to a knockdown for second round.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Round 2 of the Dream Fight

1
Dodge in the first 30 seconds of the second round. Quick dodge Tyson’s 10 jabs in the beginning of the round by slightly pressing the D-Pad left or right in the frame where Tyson’s teeth open up.
- Count 10 jabs to prevent accidental dodging.
2
Focus on Tyson from the 0:30 to the 1:30 mark of the second round. Repeat the process of dodging and counterpunching Tyson’s hooks like in the first round. Quick dodge the uppercuts in the frame where Tyson’s spirit flashes and quickly follow up with 6 to 10 consecutive high punches.
3
Finish 1:30 to 2:30 of the second round. Perform a high punch when Tyson performs a blinking animation. Block the four consecutive quick hooks that follow by pressing the D-Pad down for each hook thrown by Tyson.
- Anticipate upcoming punches and dodge them two frames earlier than usual when Little Mac is pink with exhaustion.
- Be in a position to perform quick dodges with counter left-rights and perform these actions as Tyson throws uppercuts and hooks.
4
Finish the rest of the second round. Perform a high punch when Tyson performs a blinking animation and block the following four-punch combo like in the previous step. Quick dodge and counterpunch all of Tyson’s uppercuts.
- Perform the steps from previous rounds to knockdown Tyson for the third time for a TKO victory
- Alternative: Perform multiple quick dodges without counter punches to prepare for the final round.
5
Knock out Tyson in the final round. Dodge and counterpunch Tyson’s mixture of punches. Punch him with high punches and block his four-punch combos like in the second round. Finish the round by knocking Tyson down three times for a TKO or safely dodge Tyson’s punches to win by decision.