---

How to beat Bald Bull 1

---

Introduction:
Applying this strategy will give you the chance to send the Turkish Giant down for the final count at 1:03 R1 for TKO. Although the pattern of moves was developped by me, RedTom on early November 2002 using an European PAL NES and the original Mike Tyson´s Punch-Out!! cartridge it should work fine on 60 hz NTSC NES machines, either. (The Nesticle Movie File I provide for this strategy is actually a NTSC version)
As some last words before we start led me tell you that I am not sure at all to call this way of defeating Bald Bull 1 a "strategy" any more. There are some major road junctions where Bald Bull just has to take the proper way (of acting). Call it random or try to find out what exactly determines, what he will do next, but remember not to give up if he does not act as he should according to this strategy but give him another chance. He might do better next time...
Anyway:

Phase 1:
Do the standard 17 seconds knock-down for the opening. Just make sure to keep one star left in spare as you send your opponent down. Clock shows 0:17 (up to 0:15 on PAL) and you have got 2960 points. (if you do not know what I am speaking of at all read the  BB1 strategy from Martin Charlebois below!)

Phase 2:
When the Turkish Giant comes back to fight, give him a fast face jab for a star as soon as Mario re-opens the fight. (I mean do NOT await him with UP and A/B pressed already as you do in Phase 1 otherwise he might block it!)
Then wait the well-known second of a second and deliver another face jab that has to produce another star. Note that Little Mac now has to have a total of 3 stars. If Bald Bull refused to give away the two Phase 2 opening stars then you have to RETRY. It is a must to have 3 stars. Anyway deliver that last (the 3rd) star immediately as you get it. Then wait for BB1. He will throw a hook. Quick dodge that first hook and deliver another star immediately (WITHOUT stunning him first). Then wait for his second hook. Again quick dodge and deliver your last star (again without stunning).

Upcoming is the big Bald Bull 1 junction point:
After you have delivered your last star, then you have to hope that Bald Bull will try to perform his three squirrling ones. Sadly, in most cases he will not perform this pattern but will continue his standard program: He will deliver another hook followed by a fast uppercut.
(I think the pattern he decides to perform has to do with the way, speed, manner you dodge those two hooks and deliver the two stars but I can not get behind it really...)

Anyway, if you are lucky he will wait a little after you delivered your last star. This indicates that he will perform his squirrling ones. Wait untill he is starting to throw his squirrling ones and counter (=do not dodge but face punch) with three well-timed face jabs. You must get 3 stars out of these 3 jabs !! ( I know that BB1 is not always that gentle, so sometimes he will only give away stars for the first and thirs punch- sometimes only for the second counter, but getting 3 stars is not that unusual anyway, but if not RESET or continue fighting on your own..)
When you got the 3 stars you totally avoided the squirrling attempt. Wait for Bald Bull to throw his next hook, quick dodge and counter with a standard face jab to send him down for the second time (Clock should show 0:46 , Mac must have 3 stars in stock and still all 15 hearts!!)

Phase 3:
As soon as Bald Bull is back hit START  to deliver two consecutive star-uppercuts. Then wait for Bull to perform a hook. Quick dodge and deliver your last star (without stunning). Then you have to hope that Bull will continue with another hook (this time you have to hope for the standard pattern. Sometimes he performs his squirrling ones). As soon as he starts the hook give him a fast left face counter-jab to get a star and to prevent this hook. Then ULTRAFAST quick dodge his (well, almost every time) following fast uppercut and deliver the star. You must dodge and deliver this final star that will send him down extremely fast. If you are a little bit too slow then Little Mac will ran right into another monster uppercut. You have neen warned ...
Bald Bull will kiss the canvas at around 1:03-1:06 R1 for TKO.

Modification:
Here is the Bald Bull 1 easier phase 3 that I discovered where you do not have to land the last dangerous untunned uppercut and still get a fast time. It gives about the same time as your phase 3 but is a tad slower but much safer.

Phase 3- This strategy only works when Bull gets up at a 3 or 5 count and Mac has 3 stars remining from phase 2 (see RedTom's barber clear cut phase 2 above). As soon as Bull comes back into the fight press start to let go of star #1 which will hit him. Then quick dodge his following right hook and let go of star #2 without stunning him first. Bull will attempt another right hook which Mac must quick dodge and counter with another untunned uppercut (star #3). Bull will pause momentarily and you must hope that he continues with another hook and does not go into one of his straight jab patterns. So with any luck Bull will throw the hook which Mac must dodge and and counter with 3 left face jabs to send him down between 1:01 (0:44 2nd kd) and 1:04 (:46 2nd kd) for the third and final time. Congratulations you have successfully tamed the Turkish giant and obtained a fast time on one of the toughest opponents in the game.

Dedication-RedTom's barber clear cut strategy inspired me to come up with an alternate phase 3.

This strat is not very difficult to do but we need a lot of cooperation from Bald Bull, making the moves we want.  Note that all the punches used in this strat are high jabs to the head, either left or right when not specified.

-First knock down
This first part is very easy to be done.  Begin the fight by throwing two jabs to Bald Bull and you will get a star at the second one.  As soon as you get the star, throw an star-uppercut and follow with another jab to get another star.  Repeat this combo star-uppercut then jab two more times.  Follow by a delayed punch to knock down Bald Bull at 17 seconds and 2960 points.  You must have one star left.

-Second knock down
Immediately throw a punch to get a star follow by a delayed punch to get another star.  If you don't have 2 stars with these two punches, the strat won't work and you will need to retry.  Unleash one uppercut and throw a delayed LEFT punch to get a star and intercept Bald Bull's hook.  Unleash 2 uppercuts to stop his two other hooks, hoping that he doesn't dodge the second uppercut.  Bald Bull will now try one or two uppercuts (hope for two) so dodge them and counter-attack with 7 punches the fisrt time and 4 the second time to put Bald Bull to the mat a second time at 43 or 44 seconds and 5900 points.

-Third knock down
Sometimes his stamina is getting back between the first and the second dot and you will need another more attack at the end to send Bald Bald on the mat and you will need about 5 seconds longer.  But if his stamina goes to the second dot (I think it's happen sometimes when Bald Bull gets up before the count of 8 in the 2 first knock downs), you can make a time of 1:09.

Wait for hook's attack from Bald Bull.  Intercept him with a LEFT jab to get a star and follow with 2 uppercuts before he throws his 2 other hooks (hoping again he will not dodge the second one).  He will attack you with uppercuts (hope for 2 consecutive uppercuts) so dodge them and counter-attack with 7 jabs each time.  He will be knock out at the end of the second salvo around 1:09 and 8150 points!
 

Prologue:
Bald Bull 1 is one of the toughest characters to achieve a fast time on. RedTom developed the fastest strategy entitled "The Barber Clear Cut" with times ranging from 1:00 to 1:06. Martin Charlebois invented a 1:09 strategy back in 1998. I discovered another strategy for 1:09 that in my opinion is a little easier to execute than Martin's. This is the strategy that I used before I used Tom's to get the world record of 1:01.25. This strategy picks up in Tom's strategy in phase 2 called the junction point. In other words this is the fastest strategy to eliminate Bald Bull 1 if he does not go into his triple jab pattern in phase 2 of Tom's strategy. Here is how to execute it........

Phase 1:
Execute the 0:17 second knockdown invented by Martin Charlebois to get the first knockdown. Mac should have one star in reserve.

Phase 2:
Bull will get up between 3 and 8. As soon as he comes back into the fight give him a quick face jab to produce star # 1 (50%). Wait just a tad and time another face jab to produce star # 2 (50%) Note: Do not hold up after landing the first face jab for a star or Bull will block your second attempt. Immediately after obtaining star # 2 hit Start and deliver one uppercut which will hit Bull. Quick dodge his next right hook and let go of another star uppercut without stunning him. Quick dodge his following right hook and land another unstunned uppercut. Now hope Bull attempts another hook but this time intercept it with a well timed face jab to produce a star (100%). Next quick dodge his following uppercut and let go another unstunned uppercut to send Bull down for the second time at 0:40. Note: You must lat go of this uppercut extremely fast or else you will run into another one of Bull's uppercuts. Ouch!!. Mac should have 0 stars in reserve.

Phase 3:
Bull will get up between 3 and 8. Hope that he gets up at a 3 or 5 count otherwise his energy refills more. As soon as Bull comes back into the fight dodge his right hook and answer with 3 left face jabs. Intercept his following hook for a star (100%). Immediately dodge his following right hook and land a star uppercut unstunned. Now hope that Bull throws an uppercut and does not go into one his triple jab patterns. If Bull throws an uppercut answer with 8 left jabs to his face. Now hope that Bull throws another uppercut which he usually does. Answer with 4 more left face jabs to send him down for the third and final time at 1:09. Note: If Bull gets up at the 8 count after the second knockdown his energy refills more and you need 3 extra punches on the last uppercut to tko him between 1:12 and 1:14.

Well you did it. You have a fast time on one of the game's toughest opponents. Now try Tom's Barber Clear Cut strategy and consider yourself a Bald Bull 1 master.

Dedication:
A large number of requests on GameFaqs message board for a faster, less random Bald Bull 1 strategy that less experienced players could execute is what motivated me to discover this strategy. I also wanted to find the fastest way to eliminate Bull 1 without using Tom's strategy. I also want to dedicate this strategy to Tom and Martin for discovering 2 outstanding strategies on Bull 1. The fastest way to go and practice is to type in the code for Flamenco 1 and then beat him, Hippo, and Tiger in order to get to him. Good luck on getting a faster time on Bull 1 and do not forget to download the .nsm file for this strategy.

Prologue: Bald Bull is one of the hardest opponenents in the major circuit to get a fast time. RedTom came up with the best strategy entitled "Barber Clear Cut" which gives fast times but has random stars in phase 2 triple jab pattern. The following strategy uses 9 stars with only 1 being random (50%). I TKOed Bull at 1:01 using this strategy. Here is how I did it........

Phase 1- Do the standard 0:17 kd invented by Martin Charlebois (see Martin's 1:10 strategy on Tom's page to see how to do so). Mac should have one star in reserve.
 

Phase 2- Bull will get up between a 3 and 8 count. Give him a fast face jab to intercept his rolling jab right as Mario reopens the fight for star #2 (50%). Then wait just a tad and time a late face jab to Bull's face again for star #3 (100%). Immediately hit START to deliver star star #1 which he will take. Quick dodge his following hook and land star #3 unstunned for maximum damage. Intercept his following hook attempt for star #4 (100%). Immediately after Mac lands back on his feet press START again to deliver star #3 which should catch Bull right in the middle of his following hook (Note: If Bull dodges it means that he is going into his triple jab pattern and then this strategy will not work.) Once star #3 has landed immediately quick dodge his following uppercut attempt and land star #4 unstunned to send him down for the second time at 0:36-0:37. Mac should have 0 stars remaining.

Phase 3- Bull will get up betweeen a 3 and 8 count. Hope that his energy does not refill up too much. It must be just after the second dot to get this strategy to work. Bull will attempt a hook which Mac must dodge and answer with 2 quick face jabs followed by a delayed third face jab for star #5 (100%). Dodge his following hook and answer with 2 quick face jabs followed by a delayed third for star #6 (100%). Now Bull will pause momentarily and you ust hope that he continues with another hook that Mac must quick dodge and land star #5 untunned. After uppercut #5 has landed immediately quick dodge his following uppercut attempt and land star #6 unstunned to send him down fro TKO between 1:01 and 1:03 (nsm shows 1:01). Note: You must be extremely fast in landing the last uppercut ununned or else Mac may run right into another of his following uppercuts.

Dedication- I would like to thank Tom for coming up with fastest Bull 1 strategy. Also I would like to thank Martin and Jack for contributing their ideas for a faster phase 1 and 2. The desire to find a less random strategy which still yielded a fast time is what motivated me to find this strategy. Well good luck guys and remeber practice makes perfect. The easiest way to get to Bull is to type in 005-737-5423 and fight through Flamenco, Hippo, and Tiger to get 2 fights against Bull. Good luck guys.

Phase 3:
Phase 1 and 2 are exactly the same as Barber Clear Cut. Mac should have 3 stars in reserve and the clock should read 0:44. Bull must get up with the least amount of energy reamaining (just past the second dot) in order for this strategy to work). As soon as Mario restarts the fight await Bull with the start button pressed. This will cause Mac to deliver star #1 which Bull will take. Immediately intercept Bull's following hook attempt to regain 3 stars. Immediately quick dodge Bull's second hook attempt and land star uppercut #3 unstunned for maximum damage. Immmediately after star #3 lands press START again and Mac will deliver another star which should catch Bull right in the middle of one of his hooks. Bull will now attempt a quick uppercut which Mac must dodge and land the final uppercut unstunned for tko in under 1:00.

My best time and current record on NTSC is 59.82. I think the time could be slightly lower though. Most attempts will not get you the 0:59 as you need perfect timing to get it but with practice and patience it will come. Do not get discouraged if Bull fails to cooperate in phase 3 as well.