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While The Champion has not actually appeared in any footage, this theory rests on two specific references that have been spotted in Marvel: Tokon Fighting Souls. The first is spray paint in a stage that reads “Fear The Champion.” That alone wouldn’t be enough; spray paint designs have been a staple of fighting game stages for years, and it’s not unthinkable that this could just be an Easter egg. However, the second hint is a much bigger one, as an image of the character’s belt can be seen. Readers can find both in the Reddit post embedded below.
The Champion (also known as Tryco Slatterus) was created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Wilson in Marvel Two-in-One Annual #7. That first storyline centered on The Champion enlisting several heroes for a boxing match, which ended in a one-on-one brawl between The Champion and The Thing. That sounds like it would be the perfect background for a fighting game, and a smart way for Arc System Works to further set Tokon Fighting Souls apart from what we’ve seen from Capcom. It’s worth noting that The Champion and Thanos have some history with one another, which would be the perfect excuse to make the Mad Titan a playable character, as well.
Video games can offer an opportunity to expose casual audiences to comic characters that might be less popular. Perhaps one of the greatest examples is Marvel vs. Capcom 3, which has been credited with greatly increasing the popularity of Deadpool, several years before the character had his own movie. It’s possible Marvel: Tokon Fighting Souls could similarly elevate The Champion as a villain, should this theory pan out.
