The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-10
(Reg. U. s. Pat. OR.) nv VACK emmy


 United Press Staff Correspondent New York, Aug. 10 -(UP)- Joe Choynski, last of the old-time heavyweight greats, still lives, and at 74-warns modern youngsters in war time not to be knocked out psychologically because they see a boxing glove or a bayonet thrown at them.
 The longevity and lucidity of Choynski was emphasized over the week -end that saw Jack Dillon, a well known fighter of only 50 years, pass on to the paradise where a boxer can get 8 "big money" fight each week without a manager cut ting in.
 Joe Choynski-the little guy who fought Jim Corbett with skin-tight gloves P rounds on a barge near Benecia, Calf, in 1889-may be old, but he's not giving in-not, until America wins this war, at least.
 Choynski, son of 8 German-JeW- ish father who came to America when he was IA, warns everyone in service or out that FEAR causes most defeats in physical combat. He says, "the boxer sees the punch coming.
 Scared Stiff
 "He gets frightened and the blood leaves his head and goes to his stomach. More boxers have been scared stiff than have been put out because of a nerve short circuit. And that must be particularly true In bayonet fighting, although I never fought with 8 bayonet."
 He adds, "but I could tell every American with g. bayonet - go in to rip em up intelligently, and never lose your head, regardless of how close the Nazi steel may come. Re- member that the other fellow IS more scared than you-because he hasn't had the advantage of our contact sports"
 If Choynski thought differently, over at his home in Cincinnati, O., he would say so, because he's out spoken in his likes and dislikes. For example, old Joe, who fought the late Gentleman Jim Corbett sev- eral times, still considers Corbett a "bum".
 Choynski says of Corbett, "He wasn't great fighter. And I'm not saying that because he always out weighed me many pounds. Actually Corbett never met more than three good men in his life. When they put the bum In there with anyone who could hit, he got knocked out"
 My Cincinnati agents, who went over the past 70 years with Choyn- ski, quote old Joe as saying that both Corbett and Jim Jeffries were pawns of Diamond Jim Brady, and that Brady manipulated Corbett and Jeffries any way he thought they would make the most money.
 We don't know about those ma nipulations. All we can say about them Is this-they can't blame them on Mike Jacobs of our own era, who did plenty of manipulating with the world heavyweight championship, particularly when he took 1t away from Madison Square Garden, and let ancient Jim Braddock and young Joe Louis fight for 1t.
 In Want?
 But we had the greatest admira- ton for that old-time warrior, Choynski, because of the things my i agent lest unsaid. We has asked him particularly to report whether Choynski-who at "A must be senne and useless as far as earning 8 hv- ing is concerned-was in want.
 Our agent replied, Joe probably is the only fellow who made 8 life time living off boxing. He fought professionally 20 years, and taught boxing at the Cincinnati club until five years ago. He's too damned proud to say now what his financial situation is. know he's not earn ing anything. There are rumors that his family-a reportedly suc- cessful family--is supporting him But I think someone ought to look into Choynski's situation"
 Right! We agree with our agent Some one should find out, for sure, how this old man is getting on. There are any number of wartime industrialists who could charge of & quick trip to Cincinnati and 8 bit of & gift-if necessary-against tEeir income taxes. We would be delighted to accompany said indus i trialist on his charitable trip and to let the world know of his ges- ture.
 Because, after all, Choynski Is the last of the really old-time heavy weight greats-and 1t would be a lasting shame if this old man were | .AA..,. if4nI IA rAanh fha end of khH