The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-02
By LUIS ANGEL FIRPO

ATLANTIC CITY. N. J.. Sept. 1.- Especial. )-Some of the people who want to see me train and don't know anything about boxing, think 1t Is funny because I don't knock my spar ring partners out every day They seem to think that l don't fight saw agely every day while I am train ing and hit as hard as can and, therefore, that l am loafing. Also some of the people who come to see me and who are supposed to know a great deal about boxing think the same thing.
 Fighting is one thing and training is another. When I am training l am studying all the time how best to make the fight for which l am preparing. To study carefully l do not have to hit hard and knock out my sparring partners. Yesterday, for the first time, I worked little hard and hurt MT. Koeble so that today he could not work. Then today again I worked a little harder and people said I was getting better.
 When l boxed today with Joe Mccain and Jeff Clark I let the punches go a little harder, and after it was over MT. Vega told me the people were talking about how was improving. That is very funny because, of course, l was not hitting harder. because I was improving. but
 
 come when I should begin to fight little harder and more savagely with my partners.
 Has Studied Fighting.
 It is most important of all to me to study how to fight the right way. l have studied fighting just the same way a man who was going to try to be the best professor of mathe- matics in the world would study fig ures. l have read everything I could find written about all the great fighters who have lived. I have tried to learn what made them great and what weakness caused the down. fall of each one.
 have watched other fighters in the ring and studied moving pictures of great fights. l study not only how to hit and where to hit, but how best to make my opponent afraid or dis couraged for when the spirit is crushed then 1t is easy to beat down even the strongest body.
 Since l have been training at At. lantic City I lave been studying the right way to fight Dempsey. In the mornings I study out what I shall try to do just the same as a man who is making plans to build house studies where he shall put this win dow and where that door. Each day make my plans, and each day, then in the ring l try blow CT a method of defense that I think I may need to use.
 I do not try to do it the way ] snail do 1t in the fight. No, I am ike an actor when he begins to re- hearse. He does not act and speak at first as he will when the play be- gins. At first he tries this way and that way. and perhaps if people who did not understand that he was just rehearsing could hear him they would laugh and say that he was no actor at all. But perhaps 10 those same people, If they saw him on the night of the beginning of the play would applaud and cheer and say that he was great actor.
 Tt may be soon that I will have other sparring partners. but for the present l am satisfied In a few days l expect young Bob Fitzsim- mons to be here with me. He will box with me. of course, but he does not come just as sparring partner, but as q Afriend. When I was just beginning to fight in the United States f1tzsimmons and I worked to- gether for three months, and we be- came great friends. He helped me then in many ways, and 1 think he could help me now.
 T want to say that I am satisfied with the way my training is going. could not ask to feel better two weeks before any fight I am in perfect physical condition, and my plan of battle is nearly all made up. would not have anything different than 1t is. In fourteen days now I have the great chance of my life, and I know that l will be prepared to do my best. | am content"