Maggie Fitzgerald knows that she's got to make a boxing career for herself now or lose her chance for ever. Frankie Dunn has been coasting along, running his boxing gym and keeping everyone at an arm's length. Frankie's days as a boxing manager seem to be fading and the last thing that he thinks he needs is a talented but raw girlfighter to train. After a prodding from gym keeper Eddie, Frankie agrees to take Maggie on, forging a strong bond between the two, further magnified by Frankie's estrangement from his own daughter. As the two begin to trust each other Maggie's career takes off and the future looks brighter for them both. The job's dangers prove all too real, however, and they are forced to come to terms with their new understandings of family, friendship and love.