Aran Ryan

Aran Ryan is a recurring character in the Punch-Out!! series, first appearing in the Super Nintendo version of Super Punch-Out!! in 1994. He hails from Dublin, Ireland, and according to his biography in his debut, he was subject to a lot of teasing in his grade school years because of the untraditional way his name was spelled. All this bullying shaped Aran Ryan into the scrappy boxer he is today, competing in the WVBA.
In his debut, Aran Ryan showed little personality other than his fighting prowess. However, when he returned in the Wii version of Punch-Out!!, Aran Ryan was redesigned a bit to be taller and slimmer. He also has a scrappier, almost psychotic look, and with a tendency to cheat to match. He will stuff horseshoes in his gloves, use headbutts and elbow strikes, and will even bring a weapon into the ring. Possibly as a result of this, Aran is very unpopular with the crowd, and they will constantly boo him, and even throw food at him in between rounds. However, he doesn't seem to mind, and even takes enjoyment in it. Aran Ryan also appears to be a masochist, punching himself in the face between rounds.
==History==
===Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)===
Aran Ryan made his debut in the Super Nintendo version of Super Punch-Out!!, ranked #3 in the World Circuit. He has two main attacks: the first is a hugging move called the Shamrock Squeeze, which is called out by his corner coach just before he initiates it. He will hug Little Mac before shaking him around, throwing him back to the center of the ring before throwing an uppercut. This attack restores some of Aran Ryan's health, and it must be countered as soon as Aran Ryan raises his hands. His second attack is the Irish Jig, which he does sometimes after being punched in the face. It involves a rapid series of jabs that must be blocked, along with two uppercuts for every group of jabs that must be dodged.
===Punch-Out!! (Wii)===
Aran Ryan returns in the Wii version of Punch-Out!!, ranked #4 in the World Circuit. In addition to his slimmer redesign, Aran Ryan is also shown to be a cheat, his opening movie showing him stuffing horseshoes in his boxing gloves and ticking fellow boxers while they train. In battle, Aran Ryan will move around the ring very quickly before attacking from Little Mac's left, right, or center. Uniquely, he must be intercepted in order to be stunned: otherwise, he will only take one punch and try to counter with an uppercut. He also has an attack where he tries to use the ropes around the ring to launch himself at Little Mac and throw a headbutt. This can either be dodged to counter him, or blocked to stun him, which lets him get a star. When knocked down, Aran Ryan will try to swing at Little Mac in a last-ditch effort to hit him before falling to the mat.
Aran Ryan is also battled in Title Defense mode, where Little Mac must face against every opponent again to defend his status as champion. In his opening, it is shown his boxing gloves are worn out, so he gets new ones. However, he sees a rope in the trash can, which gives him the idea to make a flail with it and one of the old boxing gloves. Thus, one of his new attacks involves swinging it around: he can either swing it above himself or at the ground, which must be ducked and dodged respectively, and if successfully dodged, Little Mac can get a star. He also uses the flail in his desperate attack when knocked down, which can actually damage Little Mac if he doesn't dodge it. However, if he uses a Star Punch just before he swings it, he can instantly KO him. Aside from this, Aran Ryan will now attack with a headbutt or elbow strike when Little Mac counters his attacks; these must be dodged, and then he can be stunned.
==Fanon appearances==
===Super Smash Bros. Charged===
Aran Ryan is represented as two Trophies and Spirits in Super Smash Bros. Charged, one representing his normal appearance, and the other representing his appearance in Title Defense mode in the Wii version of Punch-Out!!.
His normal Spirit is an Advanced-class Spirit that makes the user's neutral attack deal 20% more damage and knockback when equipped. The Spirit battle is a Stamina battle against Iggy Koopa, who has increased ground speed and will use his neutral attack and neutral aerial often (both using the Jr. Clown Car's boxing gloves, referencing Aran Ryan being a boxer).
His Title Defense Spirit is an Ace-class Spirit that lets the user start with a Home-Run Bat when equipped. The Spirit battle is also a Stamina battle with Iggy, who has a Home-Run Bat and can do more damage with it than normal, referencing Aran Ryan's flail in his rematch.
==Gallery==
AranRyanWii.png|Aran Ryan in the Wii version of Punch-Out!!
Aran Ryan Title Defense.png|Aran Ryan in the Wii version of Punch-Out!!
Category:Humans
Category:Boxers
Category:Fighters
Category:Punch-Out!! Characters
Category:Punch-Out Characters
Category:Irish Characters