Joe Choynski
(Joseph Bartlett Choynski)
("Chrysanthemum Joe")

BORN    November 8 1868; San Francisco, California
DIED    January 24 1943; Cincinnati, Ohio
HEIGHT  5-10 1/2 (Some sources report 5-11 3/4)
WEIGHT  162-178 lbs
MANAGERS  Charles E. "Parson" Davies, Tim McGrath

Choynski was a clever, well-coordinated fighter who hit hard with each fist and moved well on his feet; He was one of the outstanding light heavyweights at the turn of last century; He also fought as a heavyweight, despite weighing less than 180 pounds

Joe was most famous for his battles with Jim Corbett, Jim Jeffries, and Bob Fitzimmons; His greatest victory came though in 1901 when he knocked out future Heavyweight champion Jack Johnson; The two men were arrested and jailed; While in jail, Choynski tutored Johnson in many tricks of the trade; Ironically, it was Choynski who helped train Jim Jeffries for his comeback fight against Johnson

In retirement, Choynski toured with Peter Jackson in a production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and consulted on the production of the Jim Corbett biopic "Gentleman Jim"

Choynski was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1960 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998



Jeffries Training - Sparring With Choynski Video Clip

(Press the  button at the top of the screen to return)

*** IMPORTANT AMATEUR BOUTS ***

1884
       Jim Corbett                 San Francisco, Ca                ND  1
       Tom Moran                                                    TK  2
          -Some sources report 1887

1887
Mar 23 Jim Corbett                 San Francisco, Ca                EX  5
          -Corbett was better (L 5)
       Jack McAuley                San Francisco, Ca                TK  2
       Pat O'Sullivan              San Francisco, Ca                 W  3
       Joe Connelly                San Francisco, Ca                TK  2
Nov 29 Billy Keneally              San Francisco, Ca                KO  4
          -Amateur Heavyweight Championship of the Pacific Coast

1888
       Frank Cantwell              San Francisco, Ca                KO  1

*** PROFESSIONAL BOUTS ***

1888
Jun 26 Peter Jackson               San Francisco, Ca                EX  4
Nov 14 George Bush                 San Francisco, Ca                KO  2
Dec 26 H. McDonald                 San Francisco, Ca                 W  3

1889
Feb 26 Frank Glover                San Francisco, Ca                KO 14
Mar 13 -Choynski seconded Sailor Brown vs Young Mitchell
           in San Francisco, Ca
Apr 26 Con Riordan                 San Francisco, Ca                EX  4
May 30 Jim Corbett                 San Anselmo, Ca                  NC  4
          -This bout was held near Fairfax, Ca;
           Gloves were used for this bout;
           Police intervened; Corbett was better (L 4)
Jun  5 Jim Corbett                 Carquinez Straits, Ca            LT 27
          -This bout was fought on a barge in "Benecia Harbor, Ca";
           Corbett wore 2-ounce gloves;
           Choynski wore skin gloves with seams;
           Some sources report 6/08/89
Jul 15 Jim Corbett                 San Francisco, Ca                 L  4
          -Some sources report "EX 4"
Aug 27 Billy McCarthy              San Francisco, Ca                EX  4
Oct 14 Fred Woods                  San Francisco, Ca                EX  3
Nov 30 Hennessey                   San Francisco, Ca                EX   

1890
Jan  7 Frank McLarney              Portland, Or                     KO  2
Mar 26 Billy Wilson                San Francisco, Ca                KO  2
May    Bob Fitzsimmons             San Francisco, Ca                EX   
May 26 "Omaha" Jack Davis          San Francisco, Ca                KO  9
Jul  9 Bob Fitzsimmons             San Francisco, Ca                EX  4
          -Some sources report "ND 4"
Nov 25 Jim Fogarty                 Sydney, NSW, Aus                 KO 10

1891
Feb 10 Joe Goddard                 Sydney, NSW, Aus                 LK  4
          -Heavyweight Championship of Australia
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
          -Heavyweight Championship of Australia
       an unknown opponent         Honolulu, Oahu, Hi               KO  2
Dec 17 Billy Woods                 San Francisco, Ca                KO 34
Dec 20 John L. Sullivan            San Francisco, Ca                EX  3

1892
Feb    Bob Fitzsimmons             Bay St. Louis, Ms                EX   
Feb 28 Bob Fitzsimmons             Bay St. Louis, Ms                EX  4
Feb 29 Bob Fitzsimmons             Bay St. Louis, Ms                EX   
Mar 10 Bob Fitzsimmons             New Orleans, La                  EX   
Apr  8 Jack Martin                 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
          -Some sources report "ND 3"
Apr 13 Jim Hall                    New York, NY                     EX  3
          -Some sources report "ND 3"
Apr    -Choynski and Hall sparred often in New York
           during April
Apr 19 Charles Blockey             New York, NY                    SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled but cancelled
Apr 19 Jerry Slattery              New York, NY                     KO  2
Apr 21 Charles McCarthy            New York, NY                     KO  2
Apr 22 Tom Ryan                    New York, NY                     KO  2
          -This was not the Champion, Tommy Ryan
Apr 25 "Denver" Ed Smith           Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  3
          -Some sources report "TK 4" on 4/30/92
May 23 -Choynski and Jim Hall gave boxing exhibitions
           in London, Eng during May 23-29
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 William Patmore             London, Eng                      KO  1
May 29 Jack Hart                   London, Eng                       W  3
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                 KO 15
Nov 21 C.A.C. Smith                Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  4
Nov 23 Denny Kelliher              Philadelphia, Pa                 TK  2
          -Some sources report 11/24/92
Nov 26 Jack Fallon                 Philadelphia, Pa                 KO  4
Nov 26 Joe Butler                  Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  3
          -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                 Philadelphia, Pa                 EX  3
Dec    -Choynski was scheduled to spar all-comers in New York, NY
Dec 29 Bob Ferguson                Chicago, Il                       W  4
Dec 29 Mike Boden                  Chicago, Il                      KO  4
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date

1893
Jan 11 Peter Jackson               San Francisco, Ca                EX  3
Feb  6 Tom West                    Portland, Or                      W  3
Mar    Peter Jackson               Chicago, Il                      EX  3
          -This bout was part of the play, Uncle Tom's Cabin
Dec    -Choynski sparred with Peter Jackson in each 
           performance of Uncle Tom's Cabin

1894
Jan    Peter Jackson               New York, NY                     EX   
          -Jackson toured America acting in Uncle Tom's Cabin;
           Choynski was his sparring partner in many performances
Jun 17 Bob Fitzsimmons             Boston, Ma                        D  5  
          -Police intervened
Jun 26 -Choynski refereed the Tommy Ryan-"Mysterious Billy Smith
           bout in 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 with a pistol
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 in Madison, Il
Nov  5 Billy Stift                 Chicago, Il                      EX   
Nov    Tommy Ryan                  Chicago, Il                      EX   
          -Public exhibitions were given nearly every day
           during November
       Bob Armstrong               Chicago, Il                       D  6

1895
Jan    Tommy Ryan                  New York, NY                     EX   
          -Choynski and Ryan sparred nearly every day during
           the first 2 weeks of January prior to Ryan's bout 
           with "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey
Jan 26 -Choynski married Louise Anderson Miller in Cincinnati, Oh
Feb 25 Jim Douglass                Chicago, Il                       W  3
Mar 11 Mike Madden                 Kansas City, Mo                   W  4
Mar 21 Dan Creedon                 Chicago, Il                       D  6
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
Aug 20 Dick Wilson                 Louisville, Ky                   KO  2

1896
Jan 20 Jim Hall                    Maspeth, NY                      KO 13
Mar 22 Charles "Kid" McCoy         New York, NY                     EX  4
          -Some sources report 3/21/96
Apr 16 Tom Sharkey                 San Francisco, Ca                 L  8
          -Sharkey lasted and claimed the win
Aug 20 Joe McAuliffe               San Francisco, Ca                KO  4
          -Some sources report 8/28/96
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
          -Some sources report "San Francisco, Ca"
May    Tom Sharkey                 Southfield, NY                   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                     W  4
          -Some sources report 10/11/97
Nov 30 Jim Jeffries                San Francisco, Ca                 D 20

1898
Mar 11 Tom Sharkey                 San Francisco, Ca                 D  8
          -Police intervened; Sharkey should have been disqualified
Sep 12 Joe Goddard                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Nov  4 Gus Ruhlin                  Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Dec  9 Ed Dunkhorst                Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Dec 19 Ed Dunkhorst                Chicago, Il                       W  6

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 William Bean                Salt Lake City, Ut                D 10
          -Some sources report "Willard Bean"
Jul 21 Jack McCormick              Chicago, Il                       W  6
Aug  4 "Mexican" Pete Everett      Denver, Co                       WF  7
Aug 29 "Australian" Jim Ryan       Dubuque, Ia                       W 20
          -Some sources report 8/20/99
Sep 25 Jim Hall                    Louisville, Ky                   KO  7
          -Some sources report "KO 3"
Oct  6 Charles "Kid" McCoy         Chicago, Il                       D  8
          -Some sources report "D 6"
Oct 20 "Australian" Jim Ryan       Brooklyn, NY                     KO  7
Oct 23 Dick Moore                  St. Louis, Mo                    KO  3
Oct 27 Steve O'Donnell             Chicago, Il                      TK  5
Nov  4 Tom "Jabber" Carey          Cincinnati, Oh                   KO  2

1900
Jan 12 Charles "Kid" McCoy         Brooklyn, NY                     LT  4
          -Some sources report "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 Tom Sharkey                 Chicago, Il                      LK  2
          -Some sources report "LT 3"
Aug  8 John Matthews               Dayton, Oh                        W  3
Aug  8 Jim Smith                   Dayton, Oh                       KO  2
          -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date
Nov  2 Fred Russell                Denver, Co                       WF  4

1901
Feb 25 Jack Johnson                Galveston, Tx                    KO  3
          -Both fighters were arrested and jailed after the fight
Mar 22 -Choynski and Johnson were released from jail after each
          posted a $1,000 bond

1902
Mar  7 "Wild" Bill Hanrahan        Louisville, Ky                   KO  5
Mar 24 Kid Carter                  Chicago, Il                      LK  1
May  2 Al Weinig                   Louisville, Ky                   KO  6 
          -Some sources report 5/02/03
Aug 29 Jim Driscoll                Chicago, Il                     SCH   
Aug 29 Jack Beauscholte            Chicago, Il                     SCH   
          -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled but not held;
           Authorities prevented them
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                 KO  2
Mar 30 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
Jun 15 Charley Carroll             Dawson City, Yukon, Can          EX  4
Jun 25 Nick Burley                 Dawson City, Yukon, Can          LK  2
Aug  7 Nick Burley                 Dawson City, Yukon, Can          KO  7
Nov 16 Marvin Hart                 Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6

1904
Jan 19 Kid Carter                  Boston, Ma                       LK  1
       Jim Jeffries                San Francisco, Ca                EX   
Nov 21 Jack Williams               Philadelphia, Pa                 ND  6
          -Some sources report 11/24/04

1910
Jul    Jim Jeffries                Reno, Nv                         EX   


*** The Following Bouts Are Reported But Not Confirmed ***

Undated
       C.A.C. Smith                                                  D   
       Jack Cattanach              San Francisco, Ca                EX  4

1893
       Joe Butler                                                    D  4


*** Assistance Was Provided By Sergei Yurchenko ***

Record courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
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