Crying Fist

Tae-sik cashes in on his brutal reputation as a human punching bag, taking punishment from strangers on the streets while scraping by on street fights. He hides in a cramped rooftop room, clinging to pride even as his life spirals. When a poster for the Rookie of the Year catches his eye, he dares to dream of one last redemption.

His factory fails and his savings vanish, while his wife demands a divorce and his son grows distant. The collapse leaves him hollow, surviving by fighting on the streets just to get by. He spirals into despair, wondering if anyone can still reach him.

An old acquaintance, Won-tae, lures Tae-sik with a promise to help, but instead steals his remaining cash and disappears. Humiliated and battered, Tae-sik confronts a new low and weighs a desperate path forward. The betrayal plants the seed for the plan to enter the Rookie of the Year through forged connections.

After repeated head trauma, Tae-sik is diagnosed with early onset dementia, a grim reminder of the cost of his fighting life. The diagnosis shocks him into recognizing he has little time to fix his broken family ties. Rather than give up, he resolves to take one last shot at redemption through the tournament.

With nothing left to lose, Tae-sik pleads for Won-tae's help to register for Rookie of the Year. Won-tae agrees, forging Tae-sik's registration through his boxing contacts and offering to coach him. Motivated by the chance to reconnect with his son, Tae-sik begins grueling training sessions that test his limits.

At 19, Sang-hwan is a delinquent whose robbery results in the accidental death of an elderly man, earning him five years in juvenile detention. Inside the prison, a vigilant official spots his raw fighting talent and pushes him toward the boxing team. He initially resists authority, but boxing gives him a focus to channel anger and grief from his family's losses.

Sang-hwan earns a place on the prison boxing team and begins brutal, disciplined training, slowly proving his potential. In the prison gym, he trains relentlessly under tough coaches and begins to stand out.

Meanwhile, Sang-hwan's personal life crumbles further as his father dies in a construction accident and his grandmother collapses from the shock. He uses boxing as an outlet for grief and a way to honor his family. The sport becomes a lifeline that keeps him focused through punishment and confinement.

Both fighters enter the Rookie of the Year tournament, with Tae-sik leveraging Won-tae's forged registration and Sang-hwan earning a temporary leave from detention to compete. As they climb the ranks, Tae-sik relies on experience while Sang-hwan relies on his knockout power. The path toward the final match tightens their bond to the ring and their separate motives.

During the tournament, Tae-sik nudges toward a reconciliation with his son, finding a moment of connection that renews his resolve. That personal stake fuels his effort as he trains for each bout.

Sang-hwan visits the graves of his father and grandmother, vowing to win the tournament in their memory. The ritual keeps him focused as his rounds proceed.

The final six rounds pit Tae-sik’s experience against Sang-hwan’s raw power in a tense showdown. Sang-hwan wins by decision, earning the Rookie of the Year title. In the emotional aftermath, Sang-hwan embraces his grandmother while Tae-sik holds his son close in the ring.