Memes

Went back and did some reading. It was an arcade game called punch out that came out around 1984. Vodka Drunkinski. No Mike Tyson.

Nes got the rights to make a console game but their "family friendly" mantra called for him to be renamed to not be alcohol related.

The NES release of Punch out in Japan had 10,000 gold cartridges given away as prizes and such in Japan a bit before launch. No Tyson.

Then Nintendo of America's founder and president went and watched a Mike Tyson boxing mach, a bit before he ever became World Champ, and was like "daaaaaaaaaamn. We need him in our game as the final champ".

They signed a 3 year deal to use his name and likeness for the now "Mike Tysons Punch-out" in exchange for $50,000. You could say it was a small amount, but no one knew how popular the game would be and it was risking that maybe he wouldn't ever even become champ and he was getting added into the game completely last minute.

So MTPO dropped in 1987, Tyson Became world champ in 1987 (cause he was a scary flipping beast in the late 80's), the game was a huge hot (obvs) and if you own the cartridge from 87 through 90 you get to have MT in it. Everything released after 1990 is no Tyson, including any digital downloads and wii version or switch or whatever. It has a fictional "Mr.Dream".

So you want Mike, you have to pirate it, or you have to own a cartridge from the first few release years.