Gentleman Jim by Rob Snell

[Mofo2]

The Berkshire Evening Eagle

Pittsfield ,Mass

Tuesday Jan 26, 1943

Gentleman Jim

Scored win over Joe in 28th Round

Choynski and Corbett Battled each Other five times but the scap on Barge was easily the best of all. Choynski, the little man who beat many good big men made several other Notable contribution to pugilistic History, but will be remembered longest For his bloody barge brawl with “Gentlemen Jim†. that was the ultimate in grudge fights.

San Francisco Rivals

Corbett and Choynski were reared a few blocks apart in. the Hayes Valley section of San Francisco, and as each progressed pugilistically they became bitter rivals for the admiration of the city's fight fans. They fought five times, but four of these feuding engagements were minor meetings compared to that thundering melee on the barge.The feud started when both were amateurs, Corbett boxing for the Olympic Club and Choynski for the rival California Athletic Club. Brothers of both boxers worked in the City Hall. They argued and their arguments spread to admirers of Irish Corbett and Jewish Choynski. After various "incidents," Jim and Joe fought with their bare fists in the sand hills outside the city one Sunday morning in 1883.Corbett knocked out Joe in the first round.

A year later they met in an amateur tourney and Corbett, won a three - round decision. Choynski turned professional and enjoyed such success that he decided to tackle, his arch-enemy again. Members of Choynski's club goaded Corbett, through the newspapers, into accepting a match-for-stakes or professional bout with Joe. Corbett, instructor at the Olympic Club after quitting his job as bank teller, was an amateur. It required much persuasion before his father, Pat, consented to the professional match, but he did it out of family pride.

Fight Shifted From Barn

Corbett and Choynski met for a finish fight in a barn near Fairfax, Cal., on May 30, 1889, with a $2000 side bet at stake. The sheriff and deputies stopped the bout in the fourth round. Hence it was shifted to a- barge, anchored in the Strait of Carquinez, near Benecia on June 5.

A broiling sun beat down on the barge as Corbett and Choynski were rowed out from shore. More than 200 spectators were aboard. Corbett fought with two-ounce gloves, and Joe used teamster's gloves because he had lost his two ounce mitts. Corbett outweighed Joe, 178 pounds to 170, and had advantages of height, reach and speed.

Corbett won the opening rounds with masterly boxing, but injured his left and in--the' third round. He already was handicapped by a broken right thumb, suffered in the brief barn engagement. Choynski, the harder puncher, kept boring in with his seamed gloves, and by the fifth round, both were bleeding profusely.

In the 14th, Joe exploded a left hook on Corbett's right eye, almost knocking him out. Corbett staggered about the deck but didn't go down. Jim rallied in the 15th and they continued fighting furiously.

As the deck became slippery with blood and some of the spectators sickened at this sight of the gore, Referee Patsy Hogan wanted to stop the brawl and call it a draw, but neither principal would permit

it. Both men were in terrible shape in the 25th. Corbett's eye was completely closed and his hand

injuries forced him to hit with his wrists.

In the 28th Corbett summoned all his strength and drove a right to Choynski's jaw. Joe went down for the count, and Jim almost fainted from the pain in his right hand. He didn't know the fight was over when his brothers helped him to his corner.

Corbett always described the ending of this baige bout as a full count knockout in the 28th round. However, Nat Fleischer's ring record book, in listing Choynski's fights, says it ended in the 27th when Choynski was unable to continue. Choynski and Jim met again on July 15 that year in a four-round bout at the Olympic Club, with Jim taking the decision. But this was an anti-climactic engagement. As Corbett went on to become heavyweight champion and Choynski also carved out a career with

his fists

………………………

Sunday State journal 23 Jan 1910

BATTLE WAS A GRUDGE FIGHT.

I can hardly repress a smile When I think of the agitated governors and district attorneys who go into hysterics over our modern contests with six ounce gloves. Some of these ladylike gentlemen Should have seen the sport when it was in its iron days. It would have done them good and put some real red blood in their veins.

Perhaps – could they have gone to Benicia on that famous day twenty Years ago when James J Corbett and Joe Choynski fought to a finish on a barge anchored out in deep water. Those where the heroic days of

The ring, Fighter didn’t quibble over purses and gate money and theatrical dates. They fought because fighting was in their blood.

The hatred between the two men was the talk of the town and excited so much interest that the Californian Athletic club offered the $10,000 for a 10 round contest.

It may seem strange to any modern pugilist but they turned down the offer. They did not want to fight with big gloves for a few rounds. They wanted a fight to the finish.

It was arranged at last and the two agreed to meet for a side bet of $2000 to a finish wearing two ounce gloves. The Olympic Club boys Put up Corbetts $1000 and Charlie Asher posted for Choynski.

About 200 sports saw the fight.They rowed out to the waiting grain barge in small boats. Some put up as much as $200 to see the mill. There were famous men in that crowd – bankers , merchants, politicians and actors. Nat Goodman, who was playing at the old Baldwin Theatre in San Francisco, swung a towel for Choynski and when he got ashore late in the afternoon he telegraphed “Dismiss the audience, can’t get back in timeâ€

Then there was Phil Crimmins , who as a member of the Kelly and Crimmins combination Bossed San Francisco for years afterward. In the middle of the fight Crimmins got so excited that he fell overboard and as everybody was busy watching the fight he nearly drowned before his friends thought of looking for him.

The fight was early in the morning when the men Came together. Choynski’s gloves were missing and there was a short delay. Corbett had his two ounce gloves on. A two ounce glove is a deadly weapon for it protects the hand and allows delivery of a hard punch without danger of hurting the knuckles, yet does as much damage as a bare fist,

Captain Griffith, a racing man, passed up his driving gloves Corbett handed them along to Choynski. Joe offered to let Corbett use them “ Use the yourself or use bare knuckles†said Corbett. Choynski put the gloves on. They were so tight he couldn’t close his fists. He wanted to cut the fingers off but Corbett objected. The fight began.

Choynski at that time was rough and rugged and a wicked hitter, but little science.Corbett was already a master of the art of boxing. He had the advantage of height and reach and at once made use of it. He

Jabbed Choynski time and again in The face and the blood ran as the light gloves landed.

Jack Dempsey was behind Choynski. He had taken a bottle of whiskey to Drive out the cold and was hardly in shape to second a fighting man.his one advice to Joe was to stand off and box. This is just what Corbett wanted him to do.

They fought like tigers, after the fifth round Choynski’s nose was broken, both lips were split and both eyes near closed. Corbetts Face and body was cut to ribbons on the back of Choynski’s gloves.

By the 15th Choynski was thoroughly whipped but he wouldn’t quit. Both eyes were swollen shut he could only see enough to keep tearing in and slam away for general results.

He went over to Corbetts corner in the 16th started shouting “Come on Jim†Delaney pushed Corbett to his feet and said quickly “Run away – he can’t catch you†Corbett ran for a moment then turned and fought.

In the 17th Choynski landed several smashing punches and Corbett reeled around the ring.Choynski looked all the winner then but only for a moment.

In the 22nd his seconds wanted to throw up the sponge but Choynski refused to be rescued and although he was blinded fought along as best he could.

He was cut to ribbons when he finally dropped In the 27th.Patsy Hogan the referee counted , Choynski struggled to his feet but the referee mercifully declared him counted out.