From the IBHOF... "During an interview in 1940, Hall of Famer Jack Johnson reminisced about the hardest punchers he faced. "Jefferies No. 1? No, sir. Give me Joe Choynski anytime. I faced both and should know. Jefferies had a powerful wallop, but Choynski had a paralyzing punch. His left hand was a corker. He was the hardest puncher in the last 50 years, with Joe Walcott a close second. I think his left hook was even more effective than either Dempseys." A review of Johnson's record shows that Choynski is the only man to knock out the former champ besides Jess Willard. Corbett was no less laudatory, "Little Joe was the hardest hitter I ever tangled with. To this day I can't figure out how a runt like him could hurt so damned bad." Choynski gave Jefferies an unceremonious welcome to the upper echelons of the divisions. During their grueling 20-round bout on Nov. 30, 1897 in San Francisco, he nailed the future champ with a left hook to the mouth that broke clean through his lower lip, leaving his teeth exposed. Jefferies later said it was the hardest he'd ever been hit." Was he really that powerful?
It is fair to say that he is probably the hardest hitter of his weight that ever breathed. It wasnt just power though it was also his timing and delivery which were superb. Reading acounts of his fights you see that even if sombody had 40 lbs on him they only needed to make one mistake and he put them on ***** street.
What kind of technique can give a fighter that much power? Just picture perfect form? Find it weird that he could hit harder than Fitz wailed Jeffries...?
A puncher like that is born not trained. Choynski was a neuromuscular freak and then had superb technique to boot. Jack Johnson bit on one of Choynski's feints then, temple, chin game over. A number of common oponents said that he hit harder than Fitz. I think basicaly he could dish it out like Fitz but couldnt either take it or avoid it like Fitz.
one would think a prime Fitz would be up there. Johnson obviously faced an old Ruby Robert and a more prime Joe. But Choynski remains enigmatic and the jury must admit he possessed hellacious power.
