Joe Choynski quickly KOs Moran in what was going to be a fight to the finnish Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 13840, 23 July 1887 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 The Golden Gate athletic club offer a large purse to match Choynski with Tom Barry Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 13842, 25 July 1887 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Mentions Choynski giving exhibitions Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 13849, 1 August 1887 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Says Choynski "upheld the honours of the club against all competitors who come up against him", and mentions arranging a match between him and Keneally Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 13933, 24 October 1887 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Choynski and Kenneally in traininf for the "greatest event in amateur circles this year" Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 13961, 21 November 1887 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Choynski knocks out Kenneally in four rounds (later articles state this was for the Amateur championship) Sacramento daily record-union. [volume], December 01, 1887, Image 5 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014381/1887-12-01/ed-1/seq-5/#words=choynski+Choynski Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 58, Number 88, 1 December 1887 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 (same newspaper, just in case one dies) Joe Choynski mentioned as the Amateur Heavyweight Champion of the Golden Gate Athletic Club Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 14094, 2 April 1888 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Has him on the program of a benefit Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 14204, 23 July 1888 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Advertised as taking part in boxing contests allong with "Prof. J. J. Corbett" and Young Mitchell Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 14229, 20 August 1888 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Mentions Choynski as the Amateur champion of the coast, and says he is running the club while Con Riordan is away Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 14299, 29 October 1888 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 14320, 19 November 1888 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Mentions him winning the Amateur Heavyweight championship in 1887 in a fight with W. J. Kenealey Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 14341, 10 December 1888 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Says George Bush will fight Edawrd Cuff on the 14th, with Choynski training Cuff Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 14306, 5 November 1888 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Joe Choynski Vs George Bush San Bernardino Daily Courier, Volume 5, Number 33, 16 November 1888 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Mentioned as taking part in a testimonial for Paddy Gorman along with Con Riordan and others Daily Alta California, Volume 42, Number 14347, 16 December 1888 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski-------1 Choynski badly punishs Glover San Bernardino Daily Courier, Volume 5, Number 120, 27 February 1889 https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a...--en--20--1--txt-txIN-choynski+glover-------1
I read an article somewhere that states Choynski has a claim to being the first light heavyweight champion.You would no the chronology better than I.
I've never looked into that one, but I've heard about it. Boxrec lists his fights with Austalian Jim Ryan and Jim Hall were billed for the Light Heavyweight title, and I've seen it mentioned in a few places. It'd be interesting to see how widely recognised it was. The funny thing is, it seems Choynski would have lost his title to Kid McCoy, who then fought Root in what is often seen as the first Light Heavyweight title match. Boxrec claims Hart-Gardner was also billed for the World Light Heavyweight title, so that'll be another thing to look into. Good thread idea.
This content is protected Hilarious photo of Choynski in the same jail cell as Jack Johnson. They were apprehended by the police before a banned fight, and sent to jail. Johnson looks happy; Choynski does not.
Having a quick look, I could see a report of his fight with Jim Hall as being for the Light Heavyweight title, I couldn't see much else on it, but that's probably just a failing of my searching. I'll tell you if I find anything else, I've also got the reports of the Carter and Hanranan fights which were supposedly for the American Light Heavyweight title. Vs Australian Jim Ryan The sun., October 21, 1899, Page 9, Image 9 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...s=joe+choynski+jim+ryan+Joe+choynski+jim+ryan Vs Jim Hall Mount Vernon signal., September 29, 1899, Image 1 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...s=joe+choynski+jim+hall+Joe+choynski+jim+hall Vs Kid McCoy The San Francisco call., March 25, 1899, Page 5, Image 5 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/.../#words=joe+choynski+mccoy+Joe+choynski+mccoy Vs Hanranan Indianapolis Journal, Volume 52, Number 67,Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 March 1902 https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=IJ19020308.1.2&txq=choynski+Hanrahan Vs Kid Carter The Washington times., March 25, 1902, Page 5, Image 5 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/.../seq-5/#words=choynski+carter+Choynski+carter
I also found this that claimed Choyski started fighting in 1884! The Washington times., March 31, 1902, Page 5, Image 5 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/.../seq-5/#words=choynski+oldest+Choynski+oldest It's likely he had earlier bouts than I found, but I wouldn't put a ton of faith in this claim.
You really want to learn and study Joe, read LaForces' great book, "The Choynski Chroncles". Really terrific.
On August 18th 1902 George Gardner defeated Jack Root in a fight billed for the world middleweight and light heavyweight title. Root's next three fights were wins over Kid Carter, Marvin Hart and Kid McCoy, the latter for the light heavyweight crown. Criminally underrated was Root.
The Daily Examiner (San Francisco)- 1887 Dec 12 (page 4) Pugilism. Keneally is again ready to meet Choynski. The latter says he has retired, but Keneally is persistent, and they may probably meet again. Choynski does not want to fight again becasue he says it will be putting him too near the line of a prize-fighter. He is only an amateur, and if he fights every time he is challenged he might as well go into the business for good. Professor Watson, Keneally's rainer, believes his pupil can best Choynski every day in the week. The fight two weeks ago gave Keneally sufficient experience to make a much better fight when he enters the ring again. The watch presented to Choysnki as the amateur heavy-weight champion of the Pacific Coast last Tuesday night was the most elegant and costly timepiece ever present to a sporting man in this city. The watch is of a fine quality of gold, flowered and engraved and ornamented with large diamonds. It was manufactured and presented by T. Lundy in behalf of the Golden Gate Club. The diamond medal is also ery beautiful. No wonder Choynski does not wish to enter the ring again with a chance of losing the glory he has attained. Keneally this time wants to fight for a $250 trophy.
Fascinating guy from a fascinating era. Sad to say im from SF and we have no museum to honor these great HW fighters from the turn of the century that hailed from SF
Several years ago I was learning about Bob Fitzsimmons, but I also wanted to learn about his opponents. I read about Corbett and Jeffries, Sharkey Ruhlin and Maher, I read about Dempsey, Choynski and Jim Hall. But Dan Creedon, there was so little on Dan Creedon, and I wanted to know more about him, as he had a fairly impressive record, and fought a ton of top fighters. That was a big part of what got me into researching this stuff for myself, and I've never looked back. Maybe you could be the one to make it happen.
