Yesterday, Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by unanimous choice to defend his unified heavyweight title. “Sportswriters” and “precise boxing followers” may attribute the victory to ability, self-discipline, gumption, and even good quaint stick-to-itiveness, however we avid gamers know higher: Usyk received as a result of he dressed up because the Hitman sequence’ Agent 47 as a bit throughout a pre-fight press convention again in October.
You possibly can watch a video of the October 23 occasion by way of TNT Sports activities Boxing on YouTube. Fury enters first, dressed usually—for a boxer at a promo occasion a minimum of, the person’s nonetheless sporting a patterned blazer and a snapback. We then get Usyk’s entrance, and he is in full Silent Murderer mode with a shaved head, black go well with, purple tie, leather-based gloves, a tactical-looking transient case, and a rendition of “Ave Maria” enjoying over the walkup straight out of Hitman: Blood Cash. The true 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.
It is such an unbelievable bit, and I am not simply saying that as a result of Usyk is an undefeated heavyweight boxer and I write articles for a residing. The entire thing 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. Having the ability to decide to such a bizarre bit so absolutely as a part of a multi-million greenback media occasion requires the paradoxical confidence to not take your self too significantly. But additionally? Usyk received his man, similar to Agent 47.
It is also such a bizarre, enjoyable instance of video games’ mainstream pull and recognizability. Hitman particularly is such a wierd pull as a result of it is a area of interest sequence of stealth video games, nevertheless 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 might love to listen to an oral historical past of how this took place, however till confirmed in any other case, I am simply going to imagine Usyk personally loves Hitman.
