The boxing trunks said to be worn by Mike Tyson on the cover of the 1987 NES video game “Mike Tyson’s PUNCH-OUT!!” sold for $27,450 Thursday night at Goldin Auctions.
Tyson was famously paid just $50,000 for his likeness for the video game, which generated $1.7 billion in revenue for Nintendo.
This marks the second time the trunks have sold in less than two years, with Goldin previously selling them for $34,800 in May 2023, on the heels of the shorts' appearance in an episode of the auction house’s Netflix show “King of Collectibles” in which Tyson is shown bringing the trunks to Goldin. Despite the sale coinciding with Tyson's fight against Jake Paul, it failed to drum up sufficient excitement to deliver a positive return for the consignor.
On the cover of the video game, which sold more than 2 million copies in its first year, Tyson is seen throwing a punch in the ring, his trunks largely obscured from view on the edge of the art covered by lettering.
Despite the limited view of the trunks on the cover, photo-matching company Sports Investors Authentication said in a letter of opinion it was able to provide an “apparent match.” The company used what it described as unique patterns on the trunks, though the company states the “clarity and lighting” of the cover prevents it from issuing a certain match.
Tyson’s assistant manager, Steve Lott, wrote in a 2011 letter of provenance provided with the lot that he took the gloves and trunks from the photo-shoot directly after Tyson removed them from his body and kept them in his possession.
Earlier this year, Goldin sold another pair of trunks attributed to Tyson, said to be from his first professional fight, though lacking a photo-match, for $80,520.
Sealed copies of the video game are among the most valuable titles for collectors, with the most expensive sale notching $312,000 in October 2021.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.