Punch Out is a popular boxing game for Nintendo. The game is infamous for its characters. Some characters are comical while some are meant to be taken seriously. One of the best known serious characters is Mr. Sandman. Sandman has appeared in the most punch out games along with Bald Bull and Super Macho Man. He is one of the more popular opponents in the game. Anyway, lets learn more about him.

First, Sandman takes his name from a German mythical fairy. Sandman was a German mythical fairy that would help children and adults go to sleep. His actual style and personality is based off of all time boxing great Joe Frazier. Frazier in his prime was known for his speed and powerful punches. Also he was from Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Mister Sandman is portrayed as being from Philadelphia.

He appeared in the original punch out game that came out in the mid 1980's for arcade. Since then he has appeared in every punch out game usually as a top champion. He is usually the last fighter or next to last fighter the player faces. The only exception was Super Punch Out. Nintendo admitted they toned down the difficulty in SNES. The character also makes a cameo appearance in other games as well mainly Smash Brothers.

Not much is known about Mister Sandman's early life. It is known that he grew up in Philadelphia and started to box when he was 16. Over the years he turned pro and quickly rose up in the ranks. He has been Minor and Major Circuit Champion. He moved up onto the world circuit. He became World Champion when he beat Super Macho Man. According to the games he has been champion for a while. As He defeated Soda Popiniski, Bald Bull, and Super Macho Man in their rematches to claim their titles.

His appearance: He has a haircut identical to Joe Frazier in his prime, which he is based off of. He usually has green gloves. Yellow boxing shorts with a redish orange band around them. His boxing shoes are black with standard white shoe laces.

Attacks: His most feared attack his his dreamland express. When doing it will throw a powerful punch and quick uppercuts. If Mac (who the player controls) is hit by this it drains 1/2 of his health bar. He has a quick uppercut that also drains 1/4 of the players health bar. He also has fast hooks and jabs. Like Bald Bull he will also charge at the player landing several blows to the player. His attacks are quicker and harder to dodge.

If you face him again on the champion tour (only if you become a champion) he will cut his hair. But he is much faster and his attacks do more damage. The Dreamland express will drain 2/3rd of the player's health, and his quick uppercut will drain 1/3 of the players health.

His strengths are his speed, power, and offense. Beware he has a great defense too. He guards his face very well making it hard to hit him. He can also block your punches.

Weakness: Mister Sandman does not have many weaknesses. This is due to the power of his punches and speed of his attacks. In most fights its about luck. You have to be quick on dodging and throwing punches. It is so easy to miss and get caught in one of his attacks.

Personality: Mister Sandman is a competent boxer who takes the sport seriously. He takes training seriously. He also enjoys being at the top. In the ring he is described as having the personalities of Joe Frazier and Mohamed Ali combined into one. He believes he can continue his run at Champion. He does talk trash and taunt the player. After knocking the player down he will say bedtime. When he wins he laughs at the player then makes the championship symbol around his belt. Indicating he is still the champion. He is shown to be angry if you beat him. In the rematch he will be more aggressive and faster. It is shown how he punched through a Champion Mac Poster if Mac becomes the champion.

Here are his taunts
Its time for your bedtime
Afraid Boo
Nighttime
Have you brushed your teeth yet its bedtime
You want some more (after the player is knocked down and gets back up)
Night Night (after performing his knockout dreamland express)
Bedtime (after he has almost knocked out the player)
your going to have a nightmare tonight
I'm going to eat you for a bedtime snack.

Doc Lewis quotes about Mister. Sandman
Whoa he is quick Mac he is the champion for the reason
Whoa he is quick and powerful Mac. There has to be a way to send him to dreamland.

The character also made a cameo in Smash Brothers when translated it states

This Boxer is from Philadelphia. He is known for his brash/powerful attacks and speed. One hit form him will send Mac flying. Try to send him to dreamland if you can.

Here are his Stats from Punch OUt

From: Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
Age: 31

Height: 196 centimeters that is 6'5 feet
Weight: 129 kilograms that is 284 pounds

Wins 31 wins 29 of those being knock outs.
Loses 0

Its easy to see why he is one of the hardest opponents in the Punch OUt games. He is very fast and his punches are powerful. Its also easy to see how he is based off of Joe Frazier. Frazier was known for his speed and power. His trash talking in the ring is also a reference to Mohamed Ali who was known to trash talk. If you look up boxing history you will see how in the 1970's Frazier, Ali and George Foreman were all great champions. In fact they traded the belt among each other a few times. All 3 boxers were known for their power punches and speed. Also unlike other characters in the game. Mister Sandman actually looks like a professional boxer. Some of the characters look like professional wrestlers, martial artists, lumberjacks, dancers, and one was even a bullfighter.

Gamepro said it best about Mister Sandman "Unlike the other punchout characters. He resembles a real life boxer. He does not try to cheat he is just that good". Indeed, Mister Sandman does not cheat in the ring like the others. I looked up rule infractions for Punch out characters. It says Sandman only has one and that is face paint above his eye. Other than that he has none others. This makes him the punch out character with the least infractions.

In Conclusion, Mister Sandman is one of my favorite characters from Punch Out and its easy to see why. I will be honest Mister Sandman gave me a lot of trouble in the punchout games. For a while I did not think it was possible to beat this guy. He is the boss that makes you feel good cause when you beat him that is beating the game most of the time. This concludes the Sandman Biography.