Speedrunning, a niche but deeply passionate corner of the gaming world, has once again achieved an extraordinary milestone. After years of relentless dedication, analysis, and precision, the speedrunner known as Summoning Salt has succeeded in accomplishing what seemed almost insurmountable. For the first time, a player has defeated Mike Tyson, the notoriously challenging boss of the classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) game Punch-Out!!, in under two minutes.
Clocking in at an unprecedented 1:59.97, Summoning Salt’s achievement is not just a testament to his skill, but also his unwavering perseverance. The record-breaking run came after five years of effort and approximately 75,000 attempts. This achievement represents a monumental leap for the gaming community at large, particularly within the sphere of Punch-Out!! enthusiasts.
Mike Tyson in Punch-Out!!, released originally in 1987, has long been viewed as one of the most challenging bosses in video game history. Players must use a combination of sharp reflexes, timing, and expert-level pattern recognition to avoid Tyson’s devastating punches while finding openings for counterattacks. This challenge is precisely why his defeat in under two minutes signifies a near-flawless execution—where every input and movement over the game’s span of seconds must flow impeccably.
For Summoning Salt, though, speedrunning is more than just a hobby—it’s a discipline. Through his YouTube channel, where he documents the evolution of gaming records across various titles, Salt has shared his passion for dissecting and pushing gaming boundaries. The road to breaking the two-minute barrier in Punch-Out!! has been fraught with setbacks, frustration, and meticulous practice. Prior to this latest world record, breaking the two-minute mark had remained the ultimate test of skill, endurance, and strategy within the Punch-Out!! speedrunning community.
The arduous journey to achieving such a record involved deep analysis of the game’s mechanics and internal timing systems. Salt meticulously studied frame data—where one frame in the game equals 1/60th of a second—and optimized his play style down to the smallest details. To succeed required the flawless execution of frame-perfect punches, dodges, and counterattacks, as well as an instinctive ability to predict Tyson’s famously unpredictable attacks.
“This is a milestone not just for myself, but for everyone who has ever striven for something that seems impossible,” Salt shared in a statement post-record. His triumph has drawn immense support and admiration from fans and fellow members of the speedrunning community. The sentiment is shared by many who see Summoning Salt’s success as an inspiring reminder of the perseverance and dedication that define the art of speedrunning.
The popularity of Punch-Out!! in the speedrunning scene remains remarkably strong decades after its original release. Part of the allure lies in the game’s clarity of mechanics, where success or failure hinges solely on the player’s skill. While tool-assisted speedruns (TAS), in which software programs simulate perfect play, often demonstrate theoretical limits in gaming, Summoning Salt’s sub-2-minute Mike Tyson TKO is a purely human achievement, adding another layer of celebration to this feat.
It’s worth noting that this accomplishment doesn’t mark the end of the road. The speedrunning community is adept at continually pushing boundaries, and the record will undoubtedly be targeted by those inspired by Salt’s success. For now, though, his achievement stands as a new benchmark, a pinnacle of mastery in a game that has challenged players for nearly four decades.
The impact of this record extends beyond the Punch-Out!! community as well. It brings renewed attention to the skill, determination, and artistry of speedrunning as a whole, reminding both gaming veterans and newcomers of the unique ways games can captivate, inspire, and unite global audiences.
As speedrunning continues to evolve technologically and skill-wise, milestones such as this one reaffirm that gaming is as much about perseverance and passion as it is about competition. Summoning Salt, with his unyielding focus and ability to inspire through achievement, has left an indelible mark not just on the game he loves, but also on the broader gaming scene. His historic sub-2-minute TKO against Mike Tyson ensures that both his name and his accomplishment will be remembered in the annals of gaming history for years to come.
