Play Evander Holyfield’s ‘Real Deal’ Boxing Online

Evander Holyfield’s "Real Deal" Boxing on the Sega Genesis is one of those games that feels like it’s trying to be serious—no over-the-top cartoon punches here. You’ve got Holyfield himself as the final boss, but everyone else is just some rando with a name like "Joe Bruiser" or "Mike Knockout." The career mode’s the real meat of it: you create a boxer, tweak their stats (speed vs. power is always the first tough call), and then grind through 30 fights to earn a shot at Holyfield.

The fights themselves are weirdly strategic. You’ve got damage meters for your head and torso that slowly gray out as you take hits—if one fills up completely, the next solid punch there knocks you out. And yeah, the crowd will actually boo if you’re too passive, which is a nice touch. Between matches, you’re stuck doing these little training minigames to boost stats, which… well, let’s just say they’re not exactly thrilling.

It’s not as flashy as Punch-Out!!, but there’s something satisfying about slowly wearing down an opponent’s body shots until they can’t take it anymore. Just don’t expect the ref to step in early—you’ve gotta finish the job yourself.