Yesterday, Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by unanimous determination to defend his unified heavyweight title. “Sportswriters” and “precise boxing followers” would possibly attribute the victory to ability, self-discipline, gumption, and even good quaint stick-tuitiveness, however we players know higher: Usyk received as a result of he dressed up because the Hitman collection’ Agent 47 as a bit throughout a pre-fight press convention again in October.
You can watch a video of the October 23 occasion through TNT Sports Boxing on YouTube. Fury enters first, dressed usually—for a boxer at a promo occasion not less than, the person’s nonetheless sporting a patterned blazer and a snapback. We then get Usyk’s entrance, and he is in full Silent Assassin mode with a shaved head, black swimsuit, crimson tie, leather-based gloves, a tactical-looking transient case, and a rendition of “Ave Maria” taking part in over the walkup straight out of Hitman: Blood Money. The actual chef’s kiss comes when Usyk reveals what’s within the briefcase: An image of Fury taking a punch to the face throughout a bout, which Usyk had his opponent autograph.
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It’s such an unbelievable bit, and I’m not simply saying that as a result of Usyk is an undefeated heavyweight boxer and I write articles for a dwelling. The entire factor has, dare I say it, a contact of camp, and Usyk revealing the image after a lot construct up is such a hilariously catty little gesture. Being capable of decide to such a bizarre bit so totally as a part of a multi-million greenback media occasion requires the paradoxical confidence to not take your self too severely. But additionally? Usyk obtained his man, identical to Agent 47.
It’s additionally such a bizarre, enjoyable instance of video games’ mainstream pull and recognizability. Hitman particularly is such an odd pull as a result of it is successfully a distinct segment collection of stealth-focused immersive sims, however it’s additionally internationally recognizable thanks in no small half to Agent 47’s iconic design (and possibly additionally the considerably much less iconic Timothy Olyphant film). I’d love to listen to an oral historical past of how this took place, however till confirmed in any other case, I’m simply going to imagine Usyk personally loves Hitman.
