Joe Choynski

Joseph Bartlett Choynski (; November 8, 1868 – January 24, 1943) was an American boxer who fought professionally from 1888 to 1904.IBHOF/Joe Choynski , IBHOF.com, Retrieved on 1–1–08

Choynski is known for knocking out world heavyweight champions Jack Johnson and Peter Maher in non-title bouts, and drawing against world heavyweight champions James J. Jeffries, Bob Fitzsimmons, Marvin Hart and Tom Sharkey. He also fought notable fights against James J. Corbett, Gus Ruhlin, Barbados Joe Walcott, George Godfrey and Kid McCoy.

Choynski was nicknamed “Chrysanthemum Joe”, reportedly inspired by his long, flowing hair, an eccentric trait for a boxer of his time.

Boxing career "Chrysanthemum Joe", the son of a Jewish Polish immigrant who settled in California in 1867, weighed no more than 176 lb (80 kg) throughout his career but regularly fought heavyweights. He was considered a heavy puncher and a dangerous fighter.

In fact, James J. Jeffries claimed that the hardest blow he ever received in a bout came from Choynski during their 20-round draw. During that bout, Choynski hit Jeffries with a right hand so powerful that the punch drove one of Jeffries' teeth into his lip. The tooth was lodged so deeply that one of Jeffries' cornermen was forced to cut it out with a knife between rounds.

A contemporary of heavyweight champion "Gentleman Jim" (James J. Corbett), the two fought professionally three times. Both were from the San Francisco area, and thus generated a lot of local interest in their rivalry. The highlight of their series of bouts was fought on June 5, 1889, on a barge off the coast of Benicia, California.

The principals agreed that the bout was to be fought wearing two ounce gloves. Corbett had apparently hurt his hand, and Choynski learned of the injury. Accordingly, Choynski "forgot" to bring his gloves to the match, thereby hoping the fight would proceed as a bare-knuckle bout. Corbett, however, declined to fight bare-knuckle, but agreed to allow Choynski to wear leather riding gloves borrowed from a spectator. The riding gloves were seamed, and caused Corbett to suffer many cuts and welts. Nevertheless, Corbett won the legendary bout when he KOed Choynski in the 27th round.

In 1892 he KOd a 39-year-old legend in Boston's George Godfrey.

Choynski was never given an opportunity to fight for the heavyweight title, but enjoyed some stunning successes against famed heavyweights James J. Jeffries and Jack Johnson before they became champions. For example, he held the heavier, larger, and stronger Jeffries to a 20-round draw on November 30, 1892. On February 25, 1901, he faced and KO'ed the young Jack Johnson in three rounds. He then began to train Johnson, helping the younger man develop the style that enabled him to become world champion.

Choynski also fought six-round draws with two other men who later claimed the heavyweight championship of the world: Bob Fitzsimmons on June 17, 1894, and Marvin Hart on November 16, 1903.

Personal life Choynski was born in San Francisco to a Jewish family, the son of Harriet (née Ashim) and Isidor Nathan Choynski. He had 4 siblings, Herbert, Miriam, Maurice, and Edwin.

In 1895, Choynski married Louise Anderson Miller, an actress, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Halls of Fame In 1998, Choynski’s ability and ring-record were officially recognised by his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Choynski, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame at www.jewishsports.net

Professional boxing record All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes86WinJack WilliamsNWS6Nov 21, 190485Loss57–14–6 Kid CarterKO1 (15)Jan 19, 190484Loss57–13–6 Marvin HartNWS6Nov 16, 190383Win57–13–6 Nick BurleyKO7 (10)Aug 7, 190382Loss56–13–6 Nick BurleyKO2 (10)Jun 25, 190381Loss56–12–6 Philadelphia Jack O'BrienNWS6Mar 30, 190380Win56–12–6 Peter MaherKO2 (6)Jan 26, 190379Win55–12–6 Frank ChildsPTS6Dec 1, 190178Loss54–12–6 Philadelphia Jack O'BrienPTS6Sep 29, 190177Win54–11–6 Al WeinigKO6 (20)May 2, 190176Loss53–11–6 Kid CarterKO1 (6)Mar 24, 190175Win53–10–6 Wild Bill HanrahanKO5 (20)Mar 7, 190174Win52–10–6 Jack JohnsonKO3 (20)Feb 25, 190173Win51–10–6 Fred RussellDQ4 (10)Nov 2, 190072Win50–10–6 John MatthewsPTS3Aug 8, 190071Win49–10–6 Jimmy SmithKO2 (?)Aug 8, 190070Loss48–10–6 Tom SharkeyTKO3 (6)May 8, 190069Loss48–9–6 Barbados Joe WalcottTKO7 (25)Feb 23, 190068Win48–8–6 Peter MaherPTS6Feb 16, 190067Win47–8–6 M WoodsRTD2 (?)Feb 11, 190066Loss46–8–6 Charles Kid McCoyRTD4 (25)Jan 12, 190065Win46–7–6 Tom CareyKO2 (15)Nov 4, 189964Win45–7–6 Steve O'DonnellKO6 (6)Oct 27, 189963Win44–7–6 Dick MooreKO3 (20)Oct 23, 189962Win43–7–6 Australian Jim RyanKO7 (20)Oct 20, 189961Draw42–7–6 Charles Kid McCoyPTS6Oct 6, 189960NC42–7–5 Ed DunkhorstNC? (20)Sep 30, 189959Win42–7–5 Jim HallKO3 (20)Sep 25, 189958Win41–7–5 Australian Jim RyanPTS20Aug 29, 189957Win40–7–5 Mexican Pete EverettDQ7 (25)Aug 4, 189956Win39–7–5 Jack McCormickPTS6Jul 21, 189955ND38–7–5 Willard BeanND10Apr 17, 189954Loss38–7–5 Charles Kid McCoyPTS20Mar 24, 189953Win38–6–5 Ed DunkhorstPTS6Dec 19, 189852Loss37–6–5 Gus RuhlinPTS6Nov 4, 189851Win37–5–5 Joe GoddardNWS6Sep 12, 189850Draw37–5–5 Tom SharkeyPTS8 (20)Mar 11, 189849Draw37–5–4 James J. JeffriesPTS20Nov 30, 189748Win37–5–3 Herman BernauTKO4 (6)Oct 11, 189747Win36–5–3 Denver Ed SmithDQ4 (20)May 10, 189746Win35–5–3 Frank DwyerPTS4Jan 2, 189745Loss34–5–3 Peter MaherKO6 (20)Nov 16, 189644Win34–4–3 Joe McAuliffeKO4 (10)Aug 28, 189643Loss33–4–3 Tom SharkeyPTS8Apr 16, 189642Win33–3–3 Jim HallKO13 (20)Jan 20, 189641Win32–3–3 Frank ChildsKO3 (3)Nov 15, 189540Win31–3–3 Dick WilsonKO2 (?)Aug 20, 189539Win30–3–3 Jack CattanachKO2 (10)Jun 3, 189538Draw29–3–3 Dan CreedonPTS6Mar 21, 189537Win29–3–2 Mike MaddenPTS4Mar 11, 189536Win28–3–2 Jim DouglassPTS3Feb 25, 189535Draw27–3–2 Bob ArmstrongPTS6Sep 19, 189434Win27–3–1 Mike BodenKO3 (4)Sep 17, 189433Win26–3–1 Harry MillerRTD3 (6)Sep 15, 189432Draw25–3–1 Bob FitzsimmonsPTS5 (8)Jun 18, 189431Win25–3 Tommy WestPTS3Feb 6, 189330Win24–3 Mike BodenKO4 (?)Dec 29, 189229Win23–3 Bob FergusonPTS4Dec 29, 189228Win22–3 Jack FallonKO4 (?)Nov 26, 189227Win21–3 Denny KelliherPTS2Nov 24, 189226Win20–3 Charles C. SmithKO4 (?)Nov 21, 189225Win19–3 George GodfreyKO15 (?)Oct 31, 189224Win18–3 Jack HartPTS3May 29, 189223Win17–3 William PatmoreKO1 (?)May 27, 189222Win16–3 Mike HorriganKO1 (?)May 24, 189221Win15–3 Denver Ed SmithPTS4Apr 30, 189220Win14–3 Philadelphia Tommy RyanKO2 (?)Apr 22, 189219Win13–3 Charles Bull McCarthyKO2 (?)Apr 21, 189218Win12–3 Jerry SlatteryKO2 (?)Apr 19, 189217Win11–3 Joe GodfreyKO1 (?)Apr 9, 189216Loss10–3 Jim HallNWS4Apr 2, 189215Win10–3 Billy WoodsKO34 (?)Dec 17, 189114Loss9–3 Joe GoddardKO4 (20)Jul 20, 189113Win9–2 Owen SullivanKO2 (8)Jun 20, 189112Win8–2 Mick DooleyKO2May 25, 189111Loss7–2 Joe GoddardRTD4 (20)Feb 10, 189110Win7–1 Jim FogartyRTD10Nov 24, 18909Win6–1 Jack DaviesKO9 (?)May 26, 18908Win5–1 Billy WilsonKO2 (?)Mar 26, 18907Win4–1 Frank McLarneyKO2 (?)Jan 25, 189063–1 Billy McCarthyND4Aug 27, 18895Loss3–1 James J. CorbettKO27 (?)Jun 5, 188943–0 James J. CorbettNC4 (?)May 30, 18893Win3–0Frank GloverKO14Feb 26, 18892Win2–0H McDonaldPTS3Dec 26, 18881Win1–0George BushKO2 (?)Nov 14, 1888

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes86WinJack WilliamsNWS6Nov 21, 190485Loss58–17–6 Kid CarterKO1 (15)Jan 19, 190484Loss58–16–6 Marvin HartNWS6Nov 16, 190383Win58–15–6 Nick BurleyKO7 (10)Aug 7, 190382Loss57–15–6 Nick BurleyKO2 (10)Jun 25, 190381Loss57–14–6 Philadelphia Jack O'BrienNWS6Mar 30, 190380Win57–13–6 Peter MaherKO2 (6)Jan 26, 190379Win56–13–6 Frank ChildsPTS6Dec 1, 190178Loss55–13–6 Philadelphia Jack O'BrienPTS6Sep 29, 190177Win55–12–6 Al WeinigKO6 (20)May 2, 190176Loss54–12–6 Kid CarterKO1 (6)Mar 24, 190175Win54–11–6 Wild Bill HanrahanKO5 (20)Mar 7, 190174Win53–11–6 Jack JohnsonKO3 (20)Feb 25, 190173Win52–11–6 Fred RussellDQ4 (10)Nov 2, 190072Win51–11–6 John MatthewsPTS3Aug 8, 190071Win50–11–6 Jimmy SmithKO2 (?)Aug 8, 190070Loss49–11–6 Tom SharkeyTKO3 (6)May 8, 190069Loss49–10–6 Barbados Joe WalcottTKO7 (25)Feb 23, 190068Win49–9–6 Peter MaherPTS6Feb 16, 190067Win48–9–6 M WoodsRTD2 (?)Feb 11, 190066Loss47–9–6 Charles Kid McCoyRTD4 (25)Jan 12, 190065Win47–8–6 Tom CareyKO2 (15)Nov 4, 189964Win46–8–6 Steve O'DonnellKO6 (6)Oct 27, 189963Win45–8–6 Dick MooreKO3 (20)Oct 23, 189962Win44–8–6 Australian Jim RyanKO7 (20)Oct 20, 189961Draw43–8–6 Charles Kid McCoyPTS6Oct 6, 189960NC43–8–5 Ed DunkhorstNC? (20)Sep 30, 189959Win43–8–5 Jim HallKO3 (20)Sep 25, 189958Win42–8–5 Australian Jim RyanPTS20Aug 29, 189957Win41–8–5 Mexican Pete EverettDQ7 (25)Aug 4, 189956Win40–8–5 Jack McCormickPTS6Jul 21, 189955ND39–8–5 Willard BeanND10Apr 17, 189954Loss39–8–5 Charles Kid McCoyPTS20Mar 24, 189953Win39–7–5 Ed DunkhorstPTS6Dec 19, 189852Loss38–7–5 Gus RuhlinPTS6Nov 4, 189851Win38–6–5 Joe GoddardNWS6Sep 12, 189850Draw37–6–5 Tom SharkeyPTS8 (20)Mar 11, 189849Draw37–6–4 James J. JeffriesPTS20Nov 30, 189748Win37–6–3 Herman BernauTKO4 (6)Oct 11, 189747Win36–6–3 Denver Ed SmithDQ4 (20)May 10, 189746Win35–6–3 Frank DwyerPTS4Jan 2, 189745Loss34–6–3 Peter MaherKO6 (20)Nov 16, 189644Win34–5–3 Joe McAuliffeKO4 (10)Aug 28, 189643Loss33–5–3 Tom SharkeyPTS8Apr 16, 189642Win33–4–3 Jim HallKO13 (20)Jan 20, 189641Win32–4–3 Frank ChildsKO3 (3)Nov 15, 189540Win31–4–3 Dick WilsonKO2 (?)Aug 20, 189539Win30–4–3 Jack CattanachKO2 (10)Jun 3, 189538Draw29–4–3 Dan CreedonPTS6Mar 21, 189537Win29–4–2 Mike MaddenPTS4Mar 11, 189536Win28–4–2 Jim DouglassPTS3Feb 25, 189535Draw27–4–2 Bob ArmstrongPTS6Sep 19, 189434Win27–4–1 Mike BodenKO3 (4)Sep 17, 189433Win26–4–1 Harry MillerRTD3 (6)Sep 15, 189432Draw25–4–1 Bob FitzsimmonsPTS5 (8)Jun 18, 189431Win25–4 Tommy WestPTS3Feb 6, 189330Win24–4 Mike BodenKO4 (?)Dec 29, 189229Win23–4 Bob FergusonPTS4Dec 29, 189228Win22–4 Jack FallonKO4 (?)Nov 26, 189227Win21–4 Denny KelliherPTS2Nov 24, 189226Win20–4 Charles C. SmithKO4 (?)Nov 21, 189225Win19–4 George GodfreyKO15 (?)Oct 31, 189224Win18–4 Jack HartPTS3May 29, 189223Win17–4 William PatmoreKO1 (?)May 27, 189222Win16–4 Mike HorriganKO1 (?)May 24, 189221Win15–4 Denver Ed SmithPTS4Apr 30, 189220Win14–4 Philadelphia Tommy RyanKO2 (?)Apr 22, 189219Win13–4 Charles Bull McCarthyKO2 (?)Apr 21, 189218Win12–4 Jerry SlatteryKO2 (?)Apr 19, 189217Win11–4 Joe GodfreyKO1 (?)Apr 9, 189216Loss10–4 Jim HallNWS4Apr 2, 189215Win10–3 Billy WoodsKO34 (?)Dec 17, 189114Loss9–3 Joe GoddardKO4 (20)Jul 20, 189113Win9–2 Owen SullivanKO2 (8)Jun 20, 189112Win8–2 Mick DooleyKO2May 25, 189111Loss7–2 Joe GoddardRTD4 (20)Feb 10, 189110Win7–1 Jim FogartyRTD10Nov 24, 18909Win6–1 Jack DaviesKO9 (?)May 26, 18908Win5–1 Billy WilsonKO2 (?)Mar 26, 18907Win4–1 Frank McLarneyKO2 (?)Jan 25, 189063–1 Billy McCarthyND4Aug 27, 18895Loss3–1 James J. CorbettKO27 (?)Jun 5, 188943–0 James J. CorbettNC4 (?)May 30, 18893Win3–0Frank GloverKO14Feb 26, 18892Win2–0H McDonaldPTS3Dec 26, 18881Win1–0George BushKO2 (?)Nov 14, 1888

See also List of bare-knuckle boxers List of select Jewish boxers

Books

The Choynski Chronicles: A Biography of Hall of Fame Boxer Jewish Joe Choynski, by Christopher J Laforce. Win by Ko publishing (2013)

References

External links