Pugilist's Protector

“

Hit me. I dare you! Click to listen — The Heavy

”

The Pugilist's Protector is a headwear item for the Heavy. It takes the form of a team-coloured padded helmet, with Mann Co. stamped on the front and a team-coloured plastic mouth-guard, similar to those worn by boxers to absorb and deflect blows to the face and mouth.

Trivia

• The term 'pugilist' is synonymous with 'fist-fighter' and is likely a reference to the Heavy's preferred melee weapons of choice: the Killing Gloves of Boxing and, naturally, his own Fists, or to his resemblance to Russian boxing heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev.
• Headgear is used to protect boxers from soft tissue damage, (bruises, cuts, etc), during sparring - also used in competition in amateur boxing.
• The Pugilist's Protector is so far the only hat that has parts inside a character's mouth, in this case the gumshield.
• The straps are jiggleboned and move freely.