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In the world of retro gaming, few titles carry the cultural weight of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! Released in 1987 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the game exploded in popularity thanks to the inclusion of boxing legend Mike Tyson. As the unbeatable final boss, Tyson brought credibility and star power that few games could match. What began as a $40 cartridge eventually became one of the most iconic and valuable collectibles in video game history.
In 2021, a sealed, never-opened copy of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! sold at Heritage Auctions for $312,000. The cartridge, still wrapped since 1987 and graded a near-perfect 9.8, was from the first production run. This detail alone made it incredibly rare, but its significance runs deeper. It was also Nintendo’s first game to feature a celebrity endorsement, which only adds to its legendary status.
The backstory adds another layer of intrigue. Nintendo signed Tyson to a three-year deal, but by 1990 the company opted not to renew the contract. The rising cost and Tyson’s mounting legal troubles made the decision clear. Nintendo quietly replaced him with a fictional character named Mr. Dream in all future versions of the game. That change turned the original release into a unique piece of gaming history.
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! is more than just a game. It is a cultural artifact from a time when video games were coming into their own and when celebrity branding in gaming was still uncharted territory. Today, what was once a $40 piece of plastic is now a six-figure symbol of nostalgia, rarity, and historical significance.
