You may or may not remember this tidbit that hit the news in 2018.

Boxer Jack Johnson, who was the first Black world heavyweight champion, received a posthumous presidential pardon after years of bipartisan efforts by lawmakers and family members to clear his name — and a personal appeal from Sylvester Stallone to President Donald Trump.

Trump praised Johnson as “one of the greatest that ever lived. … He was pretty much unbeatable.”

Trump noted that the fighter’s 1913 conviction, which was tied to his relationships with white women, was one that “many view as a racially motivated injustice. He was treated very rough.”

Johnson fled to Europe after he was convicted but ultimately returned and served several months in prison. He died in 1946.

The story about Johnson is an American tragedy, but before his story turned, it was a true story of American sports success. And to whom did he credit his success? Why that would be “Chrysanthemum Joe” Choynski, the son of Jewish immigrants from London and Grudziadz, Poland.

Choynski claimed he came to Galveston, Texas, to give boxing lessons to members of the Galveston Athletic Club and to conduct exhibitions to demonstrate boxing. Actually, he was there to take on Jack Johnson. Many in the local boxing establishment thought Johnson was cocky, and they brought Choynski in to knock Johnson down a peg.

On the evening of February 25, the veteran and the newcomer met in in a damp and roofless Jewish community center called Harmony Hall.

The fight ended in the third round, as Choynski feinted with his left and hit Johnson on the jaw with his right. Johnson fell into Choynski’s arms and landed on his back on the mat. There is some question as to whether or not Johnson was expecting actual combat and Choynski was notorious for pulling a fast one on unsuspecting opponents.

While boxing exhibitions were legal, prize fights that ended in one man being knocked out, were not and members of the Texas Rangers who were in the audience to prevent a prizefight immediately arrested both men for prizefighting, which was against state law. The boxers landed in the Galveston County Jail.

Bond was set at $5,000 for each man right after the fight but was reduced to $500. No one posted bond.

While waiting for the grand jury to decide if they should be indicted for committing an actionable offense, Choynski instructed Jackson in the fine art of  “stick and move.” Sheriff Henry Thomas allowed a crowd to gather at the jail every afternoon to watch the two men spar. Choynski was impressed by Johnson’s skill, and told him, “A man who can move like you should never have to take a punch.” While locked up, Choynski taught Johnson all he knew, which was considerable.

After 24 days of sharing a jail cell and fighting tips, both men were released.

The defense counsel submitted a petition for a writ of habeas corpus to the judge of the Criminal Court. This measure contended Choynski and Johnson were being detained illegally and their bond was set too high. The petition was withdrawn March 5, and the case was referred to a grand jury, which met for two hours and heard witnesses to the fight. The grand jury failed to return an indictment.

Choynski and Johnson were finally released on $1,000 bond each on March 22, 1901. Both men left Galveston.

Following his retirement from the “fight game,” Choynski settled in Cincinnati where he became a chiropractor. He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

While waiting for the grand jury to decide if they should be indicted for committing an actionable offense, Choynski instructed Jackson in the fine art of  “stick and move.” After 24 days of sharing a jail cell and fighting tips, both men were released.

Following his retirement from the “fight game,” Choynski settled in Cincinnati where he became a chiropractor. He was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.