Sometimes people surprise you. Especially in combat sports, where the most dangerous-looking athlete might be the nicest person outside of the ring. Maybe there is something in combat sports that teaches you discipline and sportsmanship and lets you stay humble. These athletes can truly surprise you.

A similar story was recounted to Joe Rogan, who invited the former Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich on his ‘Joe Rogan Experience’ podcast. During the conversation, Blagojevich revealed a huge favor he did to US President-elect Donald Trump and shared what he learned from boxing legend Thomas Hearns.

Joe Rogan agrees Hearns was an “assassin”

During the conversation, Joe Rogan claimed that one should never judge a person by their in-ring persona. As a long-time commentator in UFC, Rogan has met some of the most vicious fighters the world has to offer. However, the comedian claimed that those vicious fighters were some of the nicest people he had ever known personally.

Taking the conversation forward, Blagojevich jumped in and shared his experience meeting former five-division champion Tommy Hearns. For the uninformed, the 40th Governor of Illinois also had s short career in boxing. He boxed for a year in the amateur circuit before walking out with a record of 1-1. However, he met Hearns during the 2024 Presidential election campaign, when he tried to convince ‘The Hitman’ on behalf of Donald Trump to endorse him.

Blagojevich revealed, “My limited, very limited boxing experience I got to know boxers and recently I helped Trump get Tommy Hearn’s endorsement,” while talking about his first time meeting with the veteran knockout artist.

Blagojevich further added that while the Memphis native was a killer inside the ring, he is the “nicest guy” you will ever meet in person. “This guy was such a badass fighter, as you know. But on a personal level, gentle, God-fearing, soft-hearted,” added Blagojevich while describing Hearns.

Joe Rogan agreed with this assessment of Hearns, adding, “Tommy Hearns in his prime was an assassin.” With a 61-5-1 record and 48 KOs backing this statement, not many people can deny this claim. And for those who may not know, Tommy Hearns agreed to endorse Donald Trump and even joined Trump on stage at a rally in Detroit.

Tommy Hearns’s spectacular record

As Joe Rogan said, Hearns was an assassin in his prime. He was the first fighter in the history of the sport to win world titles in five different weight divisions. Hearns was a thrill chaser and fought against every fighter that was termed as the best in his era. His fights with Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, and Marvin Hagler are some of the best boxing matches the world has ever seen.

The ‘Motor City Cobra’ had a KO rate of 78.7%, garnering 48 of his 61 wins via knockout. One of the four kings of boxing, Hearns was inducted into The International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012 and is ranked 18 on The Ring Magazine’s 100 greatest punchers of all time.

While Hearns’ boxing skills made him a legend of the sport, his humble nature outside the ring made him celebrated amongst everyone. Since his retirement, Tommy Hearns has been involved in many community programs. He is defined as intelligent, quick-tempered, and someone who always has a new joke up his sleeve for his friends.

His constant support towards local community members through his Thomas Hitman Hearns Foundation and his support for female empowerment is enough to state what a gem he is. While finding a boxer like Hearns is rare, finding a person like him might be impossible. Let us know your thoughts down below.