A former pugilist who looks back on his life in and out of the ring and realizes that self-respect is a more important prize than winning. Eager to take on all contenders, Davis eventually defeats the world champion, but winning has cost him more than he bargained for, he falls in with the mob and takes to a life of easy women and plentiful booze, winning easy bouts with second-rate opponents. It takes the tragic death of his best friend, indirectly caused by a beating from a mobster, for Davis to realize the error of his ways and try to make amends, returning to his mother and the artist girlfriend he left behind.
