Set in Lowell, Massachusetts, a professional welterweight boxer, Micky Ward, trains for his next fight with the hope of escaping the tough world of small local venues and stepping onto the larger boxing stage. Struggling for recognition and success, he is often overshadowed by the legacy of his older half-brother and former boxer Dicky Eklund, who once fought Sugar Ray Leonard and now battles his own demons, grappling with a life marred by drug addiction and crime. Micky's career is further complicated by the heavy-handed management of his domineering mother, Alice, who handles his boxing contracts, and the influence of his seven sisters, who are intensely invested in their brother's career.

Pressured by his family's expectations and loyal to those he loves, Micky finds himself at a crossroads when his latest fight leads to a demoralizing defeat. Feeling that his boxing career is being mishandled and led astray, he is faced with tough decisions about who to trust and what path to follow. The arrival of a tough, no-nonsense new girlfriend, Charlene, introduces a stabilizing influence and a new perspective which clash with his family's dynamics. This love interest, coupled with the chaos of Dicky's lifestyle and the complex web of family loyalty, forces Micky to make choices that will impact the trajectory of his life and career, pushing him to question whether blood ties should dictate his future in the ring.