To win money to bail his dad out of jail, Tommy Riley (James Marshall), a talented young boxer from Chicago's suburbs, is convinced to compete in illegal prizefights staged by sleazy promoter Jimmy Horn (Brian Dennehy), who exploits racial tension to fan the flames of aggression in his fights. When Tommy befriends Horn's top black fighter, Lincoln (Cuba Gooding Jr.), it's only a matter of time before the two friends are set against each other and their bond is tested in the ring.