Champion

Midge Kelly and his brother Connie abandon their home city and begin a rough cross-country journey to seek opportunity in the West. They hitchhike and jump freight cars, facing danger and hunger along the way. This early odyssey sets up Midge's willingness to take risks to rise in boxing.

The brothers are picked up by a car carrying top boxer Johnny Dunne and his girlfriend Grace Diamond. They are driven to Kansas City where Dunne is fighting that night. The encounter foreshadows the intertwining fates of Midge, Dunne, and Grace.

Midge takes an undercard bout for $35, but the promoter pockets most of the money, paying him only $10. The beating he takes exposes the corrupt, predatory nature of the boxing business. This fight brings him to attention for the first time, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

Trainer Tommy Haley spots Midge's potential after the KC fight and suggests he visit his gym in Los Angeles if he needs a break. Midge isn't initially eager, but the idea plants the seed of a new life in California. The encounter marks the turning point toward professional boxing.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, the brothers learn the restaurant deal was a con. To survive, they take service jobs and both begin relationships with Emma, the restaurant owner's daughter. When Midge is discovered with Emma, her father forces a shotgun wedding, and Midge immediately abandons his wife and flees to Haley's gym.

Midge dedicates himself to boxing with a single-minded focus. He defeats a string of local fighters, then tours the country and steadily climbs the rankings toward contender status. The journey transforms him from a street-smart hustler into a professional boxer.

Dunne is lined up for a championship shot, and organized crime figures pressure Midge to throw the fight. He pretends to comply, hoping that obeying will secure him a legitimate title opportunity the following year. The pressure foreshadows the moral compromises of his ascent.

Against the odds, Midge defeats Dunne in a single round, shattering the criminals' plan to fix the fight. The victory cements his rise and further entangles him with Grace and Jerome Harris, a powerful new manager with criminal connections. The win also marks the start of his professional independence.

Grace attaches herself to Midge and persuades him to abandon Haley in favor of Jerome Harris, a wealthy promoter with criminal connections. Midge agrees, hoping this gives him the best shot at the title, much to Connie's disgust. The arrangement signals a new, dangerous chapter in his career.

Midge becomes involved with Palmer Harris, the sculptor wife of his new manager. She falls in love and pushes for a divorce, but Jerome refuses and instead offers Midge a large sum to end the relationship. The dalliance exposes Midge's moral compromises and the costs of fame.

Midge takes the title and becomes a popular fan favorite thanks to his rags-to-riches rise. His triumph elevates him while drawing attention from the press and fans. He also remains entangled in the complex, sometimes dangerous, sexual and business web around him.

After training anew with Haley, Midge returns to the ring for a rematch with Dunne. He dominates early, then endures a brutal beating before rallying in the final round to win by knockout. He is mortally injured in the locker room, dying of a cerebral hemorrhage, and Connie and Emma walk away afterward, free to continue their lives.