Joe Choynski
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Choynski was a very crafty, clever boxer with a stiff punch for a man his size; He often fought men larger than himself and when he was young, more than held his own; Choynski was elected to the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1960 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998
BORN : November 8 1868; San Francisco, California DIED : January 25 1943; Cincinnati, Ohio HEIGHT : 5-10 1/2 WEIGHT : 162-178 lbs RACE : White MANAGERS : Charles E. "Parson" Davies, Tim McGrath
Boxing Record
***** Amateur Bouts ***** 1884 Jim Corbett San Francisco, Ca ND 1 Tom Moran TK 2 -Some sources report "W 2" in 1887 1887 Jack McAuley San Francisco, Ca TK 2 Pat O'Sullivan San Francisco, Ca W 3 Joe Connelly San Francisco, Ca TK 2 Nov 29 William Keneally San Francisco, Ca KO 4 -Amateur Heavyweight Championship of the Pacific Coast; Keneally knocked Choynski down 7 times 1888 Frank Cantwell San Francisco, Ca KO 1 ***** Professional Bouts ***** 1888 Nov 14 George Bush San Francisco, Ca KO 2 Dec 26 Duncan McDonald San Francisco, Ca W 3 -Some sources report "W 1" 1889 Feb 26 Frank Glover San Francisco, Ca KO 14 Mar 13 -Choynski seconded Sailor Brown vs Young Mitchell at San Francisco, Ca Apr 26 Con Riordan San Francisco, Ca EX 4 May 30 Jim Corbett Fairfax, Ca ND 4 -Gloves were used for this bout; Police intervened Jun 5 Jim Corbett Benecia Harbor, Ca (1:47:00) LT 27 -This bout was fought on a barge; Corbett wore 2-ounce gloves; Choynski wore gloves with seams Jul 15 Jim Corbett San Francisco, Ca L 4 Aug 27 Billy McCarthy San Francisco, Ca EX 4 1890 Jan Frank McLarney Portland, Or KO 2 -Some sources report 1889 Mar 26 Billy Wilson San Francisco, Ca KO 2 May 26 "Omaha" Jack Davis San Francisco, Ca KO 9 Jul 10 Bob Fitzsimmons San Francisco, Ca ND 4 Nov 25 Jim Fogarty Sydney, NSW, Aus KO 10 1891 Feb 10 Joe Goddard Sydney, NSW, Aus LK 4 May 25 Mick Dooley Melbourne, Vic, Aus KO 2 Jun 20 Owen Sullivan Melbourne, Vic, Aus KO 2 Jul 20 Joe Goddard Melbourne, Vic, Aus LK 4 an unknown opponent Honolulu, Oahu, Hi KO 2 Dec 17 Billy Woods San Francisco, Ca KO 34 -Some sources report 1892 Dec 20 John L. Sullivan San Francisco, Ca EX 3 1892 Apr 8 Jack Martin Philadelphia, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled Apr 9 Jack Fallon Philadelphia, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled Apr 9 Joe Godfrey Philadelphia, Pa TK 1 Apr 11 Jim Hall New York, NY EX 3 Apr 13 Jim Hall New York, NY EX 3 Apr -Choynski and Hall sparred nightly at New York, NY (Niblo's Theatre) Apr 19 Charles Blockey New York, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled Apr 19 Jerry Slattery New York, NY KO 2 -Slattery substituted for Blockey Apr 21 Charles McCarthy New York, NY KO 2 Apr 22 Tom Ryan New York, NY KO 2 Apr 30 "Denver" Ed Smith Philadelphia, Pa TK 4 -Police intervened; Some sources report "W 4"; Some "W 1" Some sources report 4/25/92 May 23 -Choynski and Jim Hall gave boxing exhibitions in London, Eng (Novelty Theatre) during May 23-28 May 24 Mike Horrigan London, Eng KO 1 May 25 Jack Hart London, Eng SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known May 27 W. Patmore London, Eng KO 1 May 29 Jack Hart London, Eng W 3 Jun 1 -Choynski challenged Jem Smith to a bout; It was never held Jul 30 -Jem Smith challenged Choynski to a bout; It was never held Aug 27 Billy McCarthy San Francisco, Ca EX 4 Sep 12 Jim Corbett New York, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Oct 13 an unnamed opponent Atlantic Highlands, NJ EX Oct 29 Bob Fitzsimmons Navesink Highlands, NJ SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Oct 31 George Godfrey Coney Island, NY (59:00) KO 15 Nov 21 C.C. Smith Philadelphia, Pa TK 4 -Smith was known as "Muldoon's Thunderbolt"; Nov 23 Denny Kelliher Philadelphia, Pa TK 2 Nov 26 Joe Butler Philadelphia, Pa EX 3 Nov 26 Jack Fallon Philadelphia, Pa TK 4 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Nov 30 Martin "Buffalo" Costello Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Dec 3 Jack Fallon Brooklyn, NY EX 3 -Fallon lasted and claimed win; He went down often to avoid punishment Dec -Choynski was scheduled to spar all-comers at the New York, NY (Miner's Eighth Avenue Theatre) Dec 29 Bob Ferguson Chicago, Il W 4 Dec 29 Mike Boden Chicago, Il KO 4 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same evening 1893 Jan 11 Peter Jackson San Francisco, Ca EX 3 -Some sources report "EX 10" Feb 6 Tom West Portland, Or W 3c Mar Peter Jackson Chicago, Il EX 3 -This bout was part of the play "Uncle Tom's Cabin" Joe Butler D 4 Dec -Choynski sparred with Peter Jackson in each performance of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" 1894 Jan Peter Jackson New York, NY EX Jun 17 Bob Fitzsimmons Boston, Ma (2:40) D 5 -Police intervened; Some sources report "L 5" Jul 26 -Choynski refereed the Tommy Ryan-"Mysterious" Billy Smith bout at Minneapolis, Mn Aug 14 Steve O'Donnell Chicago, Il SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Sep 15 Harry Miller Cincinnati, Oh W 3 Sep 17 Mike Boden Chicago, Il TK 3 Sep 22 Joe Tansey Jackson, Mi SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled; Choynski accidently shot himself in the right hand Oct 1 Jim Hall Chicago, Il SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Oct 16 -Choynski refereed the Tom Tracy-"Australian" Billy Murphy bout at Madison, Il Nov Tommy Ryan Chicago, Il EX -Choynski and Ryan gave public exhibitions every day during the first week of Nov; Ryan was training for a bout with "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey Nov 5 Billy Stift Chicago, Il EX 1895 Jan -Choynski sparred daily with Tommy Ryan at the New York, NY (New Manhattan AC) Jan 26 -Choynski married Louise Anderson Miller at Cincinnati, Oh Feb 25 Jack Douglass Chicago, Il W 3 Mar 11 Mike Madden Kansas City, Mo W 4 Mar 21 Dan Creedon Chicago, Il D 6 -The referee left the stage without rendering a decision; Technically, if bout men were standing at the end, the verdict was a "draw"; Choynski hammered Creedon around the ring May Tommy Ryan Dead Lake, NJ (near Asbury Park) EX Jun 3 Jack Cattanach Baltimore, Md KO 2 Jun 8 Bob Armstrong New York, NY EX 3 Jun 27 Bob Armstrong New York, NY EX 6 -Some sources report "EX 3"; Others "D 6" Aug 20 Dick Wilson Louisville, Ky KO 2 1896 Jan 20 Jim Hall Maspeth, NY KO 13 Mar 21 Charles "Kid" McCoy New York, NY EX 4 -Some sources report "ND 4" on 3/22/96 Apr 16 "Sailor" Tom Sharkey San Francisco, Ca L 8 -Sharkey lasted and claimed win Aug 28 Joe McAuliffe San Francisco, Ca KO 4 -Some sources report 8/20/96; Others report 8/29/96; Some sources report Los Angeles, Ca Nov 16 Peter Maher New York, NY LK 6 Dec 26 Peter Maher Pittsburgh, Pa EX 3 1897 Jan 2 Frank Dwyer Pittsburgh, Pa W 4 May 10 "Denver" Ed Smith New York, NY WF 4 May Tom Sharkey Staten Island, NY (Southfield) EX Aug 6 Bob Armstrong Chicago, Il EX Sep 13 Al Schrosbee Chicago, Il EX Sep 16 Dan Creedon St. Louis, Mo EX 3 Oct 9 Herman Bernau Galveston, Tx TK 4 -Some sources report 10/11/97 Nov 30 Jim Jeffries San Francisco, Ca D 20 1898 Mar 11 "Sailor" Tom Sharkey San Francisco, Ca D 8 -Police intervened ; Newspaper sources report that Sharkey was fouling and should have been disqualified Sep 12 Joe Goddard Philadelphia, Pa ND-W 6 Nov 4 Gus Ruhlin Philadelphia, Pa ND-L 6 Dec 9 Ed Dunkhorst Philadelphia, Pa ND-W 6 Dec 19 Ed Dunkhorst Chicago, Il W 6 -Some sources report 12/12/98; Others 12/20/98 1899 Jan 19 Jim Hall Galveston, Tx SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; Authorities prevented it Jan 26 -Isadore Chyonski died (cancer) in San Francisco, Ca; He was Joe's father and the Editor of a Jewish paper, "Public Opinion" Mar 24 Charles "Kid" McCoy San Francisco, Ca L 20 Apr 19 Willard Bean Salt Lake City, Ut D 10 Jul 21 Jim "Jack" McCormick Chicago, Il W 6 Aug 4 "Mexican" Pete Everett Denver, Co WF 7 Aug 20 "Australian" Jim Ryan Dubuque, Ia W 20 -This bout was promoted as the Light Heavyweight Championship of the World; Some sources report 8/29/99; Others 9/29/99 Sep 25 Jim Hall Louisville, Ky KO 3 -Some sources report "KO 7" Oct 6 Charles "Kid" McCoy Chicago, Il D 8 -Some sources report this bout as a "pre-arranged Draw" The newspaper verdict was "ND-L 8"; Some sources report "D 6" Oct 20 "Australian" Jim Ryan New York, NY KO 7 Oct 23 Dick Moore St. Louis, Mo KO 3 Oct 27 Steve O'Donnell Chicago, Il TK 6 -Some sources report "TK 5" Nov 4 Tom Carey Cincinnati, Oh KO 2 -Some sources report "W 3" 1900 Jan 12 Charles "Kid" McCoy New York, NY LT 3 Feb 11 M. Woods Chicago, Il KO 3 Feb 16 Peter Maher Chicago, Il W 6 Feb 23 Joe Walcott New York, NY LT 7 May 8 "Sailor" Tom Sharkey Chicago, Il LT 3 -Some sources report "LT 2" Aug 7 John Matthews Dayton, Oh TK 3 -Some sources report "W 3" Aug 7 Frank Taylor Dayton, Oh KO 2 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same evening; Some sources report the second man as "Jim Smith" and not Frank Taylor Nov 2 Fred Russell Denver, Co WF 4 1901 Feb 25 Jack Johnson Galveston, Tx KO 3 1902 Mar 7 "Wild" Bill Hanrahan Louisville, Ky KO 5 Mar 24 Kid Carter Chicago, Il (0:35) LK 1 May 2 Al Weinig Chicago, Il KO 6 -Some sources report "Louisville, Ky" Sep 29 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Chicago, Il L 6 Oct 3 George Gardner Los Angeles, Ca SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled Dec 1 Frank Childs Chicago, Il W 6 1903 Jan 26 Peter Maher Philadelphia, Pa (2:00) KO 2 Mar 30 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Philadelphia, Pa ND-L 6 May 2 Al Weinig Louisville, Ky W 6 Jun 27 Nick Burley Dawson City, YT, Can LK 2 Aug 7 Nick Burley Dawson City, YT, Can KO 7 -Some sources report 9/02/03 Nov 16 Marvin Hart Philadelphia, Pa ND-L 6 1904 Jan 19 Kid Carter Boston, Ma LK 1 Jim Jeffries San Francisco, Ca EX Nov 21 Jack Williams Philadelphia, Pa ND-L 6 ***** The following bouts are reported but not confirmed ***** Undated Jack Cattanach San Francisco, Ca EX 4 C.A.C. Smith D Steve O'Donnell Sydney, NSW, Aus L 4 -This bout possibly took place during 1890-1891