The Video Game History Foundation‘s latest YouTube video presents a real uppercut of a find: A playable early prototype of Nintendo’s NES boxing game Punch-Out, made before Mike Tyson was signed as its star. There’s no hint of Tyson in this prototype, but four Punch-Out boxers appear, sometimes with behavior different from the final game. Frank Cifaldi, founder and director of the VGHF, explores the differences found in the prototype in the video. Another cool thing in this video: Cifaldi shares a Nintendo ad that features early box art mock-ups for Punch-Out and the original Legend of Zelda in Nintendo’s mid ’80s black box house style. The Video Game History Foundation routinely uncovers cool, weird stories and artifacts from gaming history just like this; you can find more at its website and official YouTube channel.

Source: Punch April 10, 2026 15:26 UTC