History YMMV / PunchOut

* LoveToHate: Two words: Aran Ryan. The biggest, most blatant cheater and downright insane in the brain in the ''Wii'' version, yet this same personality is what has earned Aran Ryan lots of fans. The CatharsisFactor of beating him helps, too.

** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL7nX9W3aOU Nigga stole my bike!]]", based on the scene where Mac trains by running through the city while Louis is riding away on a bike, but mutation changed the scene's context. The Wii version takes this joke and runs with it; in between rounds, Doc Louis may tell Mac [[AscendedMeme he wants to take a ride on his bike]].

** The NES game features a couple lines from Creator/MikeTyson[=/=]Mr. Dream where he talks about Little Mac's finger speed. Between rounds, he can taunt Little Mac with the line "You think the speed of your fingers can match the strength of my fists?" Meanwhile, defeating Tyson/Dream results in him saying that "I've never seen such finger speed before," followed by the boxer winking at the camera after the latter line. These lines, especially the latter, have long been the subject of bawdy jokes among fans thanks to them sounding less like references to playing an NES game and more like references to, well, sex.

** This line from the NES game:
--->'''Creator/MikeTyson:''' You think the speed of your fingers can match the strength of my fists?

* MemeticMolester:
** Mr. Sandman. ''Especially'' in the Wii version.
--->'''Mr. Sandman''': "Hey Mac Baby! Brush your teeth. ''(leans in)'' It's bedtime...!"
** [[spoiler:Donkey Kong]], given how he "kidnaps" Mac if the player loses the match, and his facial expression is... unsettling.

** Most of the characters have something about them meant to piss you off slightly, be it bad stereotyping or some other obnoxious personality quirk. This is probably to make it more satisfying when you beat their faces in. The epitome of this is Title Defense Aran Ryan.

* AcceptableTargets:
** The series is known for using national stereotypes instead of racial stereotypes. People generally don't seem to be severely offended even though they recognize the stereotypes; the characters seem more cartoonish than realistic and hit everyone equally. It also helps that [[SelfDeprecation both Next Level Games (Bear Hugger) and Nintendo (Piston Hondo) are taking the piss out of their countrymen too.]]
** The weakest fighters in the series, Glass Joe and Gabby Jay, are [[CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys French]]. It's taken to the point where in the Wii version, you can literally ''punch the croissants out of Glass Joe.'' Amusingly, said Frenchmen [[{{Determinator}} never gave up a single match]] despite [[{{Jobber}} their matching records]].

* {{Misblamed}}: Some people assume that the ''Mr. Dream'' version of the NES ''Punch-Out!!'' was released to replace the ''Mike Tyson'' version because of the Tyson rape charges. The case happened a year after the ''Mr. Dream'' version was released; rather, Nintendo's contract with Tyson expired and it was not renewed because he had lost his champion status.

** Interpretations of [[TheGhost Aran Ryan's sister]] vary, but if her and Aran aren't portrayed as HalfIdenticalTwins, she is typically the younger of the two. "Shannon" seems to be the most common fanon name for her, but names like Sharonne, Moira, [[Webcomic/AskTheRyans Rory]], Iona, and Brigit have also been used.

* TheWoobie: The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chyTo3Y_vTo defeated opponents gallery]] in Title Defense shows King Hippo standing in fear with his lip quivering, Bear Hugger looking like he's about to cry, the crushed looks of Disco Kid, Don Flamenco, or Soda Popinski, and even Super Macho Man's face that could inspire some sympathy. The only exceptions are Mr. Sandman (who just looks absolutely stunned), Great Tiger (who simply looks like he's about to puke), and Aran Ryan... who could [[{{Squick}} perhaps use a smoke]]... Von Kaiser is also shown cowering in the Title Defense review, making him seem all the more pitiful.

* ContestedSequel: The SNES ''Super Punch-Out!!'' is seen as a huge step up from the NES game in the presentation department, with some wonderfully done 16-bit sprite work. However, its gameplay is very divisive, due to several mechanics being changed from the NES game. Additionally the mostly different set of opponents aren't as well-received as the cast in the NES game since they range from unmemorable (such as Gabby Jay, Aran Ryan, and the Bruiser brothers Nick and Rick) to so outlandish that it breaks suspension of disbelief (such as Heike Kagero, Mad Clown, and Hoy Quarlow). Although it is generally regarded as a good game, whether it holds up to ''Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!'' is up for debate.

** Princess Peach was originally intended to be the BonusBoss in ''Punch-Out!!'' Wii until being replaced by [[spoiler: Donkey Kong]] [[DoubleStandard because they didn't like the idea of Little Mac beating up a girl]]. With Little Mac being added as a playable character in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'', both can now duke it out in the ring. Additionally, later in the ''Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games'' series, boxing would be added as one of its games and Peach is able to compete in it against the male characters from Mario and Sonic, so she ended up being able to be punched out by men in a boxing ring anyway.

* ScrappyMechanic: The Wii title doesn't let you replay career matches or Last Stand mode. Career mode isn't too bad since you can face the boxers again in Exhibition, but the title bouts have exclusive background music that isn't in the sound test. Last Stand is worse, since if you lose 3 times, you can ''never access the mode again'' on that save file. If that happens before you get to fight the BonusBoss, you can either start the entire game over on a new save file, or resign yourself to the fact that [[PermanentlyMissableContent you will never get to face all boxers in the game]].

** Despite the CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys image that Glass Joe is supposed to portray, some fans portray him as a {{Determinator}}, seeing as he hasn't quit. Doc even acknowledges this, as does Joe's [[http://www.ssbwiki.com/List_of_SSB4_trophies_(Punch-Out!!_series) Smash Bros trophy.]]

** In the Wii version, Great Tiger's special K.O. animation has him TeleportSpam before passing out. In Title Defense, at the end he disappears and ''doesn't come back''.

** Punching bag Glass Joe has strangely endeared himself to the fanbase.

** The weakest fighters in the series, Glass Joe and Gabby Jay, are [[CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys Frenchmen]]. It's taken to the point where in the Wii version, you can literally ''punch the croissants out of Glass Joe.'' Amusingly, said Frenchmen [[{{Determinator}} never gave up a single match]] despite [[{{Jobber}} their matching records]].

** Texas Mac in ''Arm Wrestling'' has the stat screen description of ''Stud-Horse''. Coupled with his shirtless appearance and ten-gallon hat, it just makes him come across as an Old West-themed porn star.

** In the Wii game, many people find Super Macho Man much easier than the preceding bout against Bald Bull or the following bout against world champion Mr. Sandman.

** "Give him full power now, champ!"

** "Give him full power now, champ!"

** While most of the opponents in the NES game have cartoonish character portraits, Creator/MikeTyson is the only real-life character. Because of this, his character portrait is a digitized image of his actual face. Aside from the intense UncannyValley feel of it, his eyes are black hollows with tiny white pupils. Something about this combined with the missing teeth in his smile makes him look ironically... ''inhuman''.
** Mad Clown, with his [[SlasherSmile enormous smile]] and UncannyValley-esque eyes, he can make anyone coulrophobic.

* UncannyValley: The ''Super Punch-Out!!'' protagonist's appearance in ''Fight Night Round 2''. [[http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/article/586/586259/ea-sports-fight-night-round-2-20050208050651080.jpg Just look]].