Corbett-Choynski Confusion

[Jpreisser]

I am in need of some help here. I am reading Armond Fields biography of James J. Corbett. In his book, he talks about Corbett's rivalry with Joe Choynski. Too give a brief overview, Corbett and Choynski had brothers who worked at City Hall (Corbett's brother Harry; Choynski's brother Herbert) and they argued about whose brother was the better fight. This led to confrontation and they eventually engaged in a brief bare-knuckle street fight where Corbett knocks him cold, with one brother each in attendance. However, in I Fought ‘Em All as told by Tom Lewis by Joe Choynski, it says the following:

"But, in spite of all this, I knew little or nothing of real fighting when I had my first clash with James J. Corbett. Corbett, on the other hand, was even then regarded as a wizard. He was fast, as light and keen as a razor.

Naturally, there was rivalry between us, for I had my following, and Jim had his. We were born to clash.

One day, like a bolt from the blue, I got an invitation from Corbett. He wanted me to come to the Corbett livery-stable for a little set-to. History was in the making.

Up to this time, I had never seen Corbett. He had been tutored at the exclusive Olympic Club under the watchful eye of Walter Watson, an excellent boxing instructor who had come to California from England. I had been tutored in the streets and on the sandlots. There is plenty of difference. I accepted Corbett’s invitation. I went to the stable accompanied by my brother Maurice.

Corbett and I started boxing, there in the stable, among the horses, and it didn’t’ take me long to tumble that he had me stumped as far as science goes. We fought with bare knuckles.

Corbett’s speed dazzled me. He moved like a flash of lightening. The first round was fast as thought. Before the initial session was over I realized I would have to pick up many pointers if I hoped to hold my own with Corbett. He danced around that stable like an apparition.

He gave me a boxing lesson for two rounds. I was busier than a bird-dog. When I wasn’t ducking Corbett, I was trying to doge the flying heels of the excited horses. There was no referee and no decision. But I gave Corbett credit for out-boxing me. We shook hands and parted. But I knew there was going to be bad blood between us. Trouble was brewing."

Another account from The Berkshire Eagle from Pittsfield, Massachusetts says this:

"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."

Fields records their second meetings as James and Joe agreeing to meet in a stone quarry, but ultimately fighting in front of the Choynski house. Apparently "Jim beat Joe again, but this time it was a hard, bruising, bloody fight."

Choynski's story reads:

"It wasn’t long developing. My brother Maurice worked at the City Hall. So did Corbett’s brother Harry. They took up the feud. Maurice issued a challenge to Corbett through Harry. It was arranged that we should meet at the Dog Pound.

I went to the Dog Pound with Maurice and Frank Nichols. Corbett was there. And he had eight or ten members of his Hayes Valley “gang” with him. This didn’t look so good.

Jack Gallagher was timekeeper. There was no referee. We went into it – with bare knuckles.

Again I was dazzled by Corbett’s speed. That lightening-like left of his tapped my beezer before I could think. His feet were twinkling like a tap dancer’s. Blows came so fast I couldn’t begin to dodge them. I stopped plenty.

Bank! This is a left to my chin. Bam! That is a left to my nose! Smack! Another left to my eye! Corbett kept repeating the dose.

Then, with no secret hope that I could even land the lick, I started a mighty heave for Corbett’s head. It landed, biff! on his temple – and Corbett toppled to the ground. That thrilled me!

Instantly, Gallagher called “time.” But here my friend Frank Nichols set up a yell: “Run, Joe – you and Maurice – you’ve got no chance here now!” I knew he referred to Corbett’s gang. After that knockdown of their favorite, I wouldn’t have even a dog’s chance, here in the Dog Pound.

So Maurice and I started to pull out. But here Corbett jumped up. He was sore as a goat. He paid no attention to me. He leaped at Maurice. “You’re responsible for this!” he yelled, and then he handed poor Maurice a peach of a wallop on the nose! To this day, I don’t know why he took it out on my brother.

Well, I wasn’t faring so badly. First, I met Corbett among the horses – and he outpointed me. Next, I tangled with him among the dogs – and knocked him down. And this paved the way for our third meeting."

The Berkshire Eagle claims their second meeting was, "A year later they met in an amateur tourney and Corbett, won a three - round decision."

I am not quite sure what to believe here, as Choynski's recollection is almost wildly divergent from the other sources and all of them disagree to varying degrees. Can anyone help clarify what really happened between the two? Much appreciated.

[Cap]

Seems unlikely at this late stage with everyone long gone and no film record. You're left with fuzzy newspaper accounts and personal recollections made years after the fact.