This circuit is perfect for those new to the ring. You’re a little fish in a little pond, but if you make your mark here, you’ll be fighting the sharks in no time!
Glass Joe is at his most vulnerable just after he taunts Little Mac. When Joe steps back to begin his taunt, stop punching. As soon as Joe starts to move forward, hit him to score an instant knockdown. The sooner you punch him, the more likely he is to stay on the mat.
If Mac knocks Joe down in less than one minute without any mistakes, he gets up on the first count. This is your KO chance! When Joe gets up, quickly throw an uppercut. He probably won’t be able to get up a second time. If you’re trying for a minimum KO time, don’t miss the second punch.
In order to beat Von, try to avoid his punches. Even if you block his punches, you’ll still be injured. The most reliable way to earn a Star is to throw body-shot when Von Kaiser crouches down for a power punch. Otherwise, your best tactic is to stay away from his punches, then stun him with a quick blow to the face. Once he’s stunned, you can knock him down with a single uppercut. Be sure to hit him with an uppercut as soon as he’s stunned!
Honda telegraphs his fastest punches by twitching his eyebrows. If you manage to land a punch before he attacks, you usually earn a Star for your trouble. Otherwise, slip his punch and catch him off-guard with a quick jab. Beware of Honda’s lethal Piston Punches! When Honda jumps back and hops around the mat, make sure you’re ready to block the impending flurry of jabs. This combination ends with a right uppercut—make sure you sway to the left!
Winning Strategy for the Piston Punch
In order to KO Piston Honda, you must block his deadly Piston Punches. These five straight punches come at a steady rhythm, so make sure you time your blocks to stop each and every one of them. At the end of the Piston Punches, he throws a right uppercut; sway to the left, and then throw a counter-jab to his face. After stunning Honda with this blow, follow with a Star-powered uppercut. However, even without this uppercut, you can put him down using the “one-two” punch pattern. Avoid Honda’s punch and use your “one-two” punch again.
If you’re feeling bold, you can also try to counter Honda’s Piston Punches. Wait for him to finish his quickstep, then hit him just before he throws his first punch. It isn’t easy to pull off, but a properly-timed counter will knock him to the mat.