Johnny Captor, a blue collar worker, has a dream of competing for and winning a medal in the Olympics. He decides to go into training full time with the assistance of George Beifus but the doubts of his parents.
An underhanded female sportswriter needs a good story and believes Johnny would be a good subject. But her interest in the boxer threathens to derail Johnny's dreams and ruin his opportunity.
Johnny's mother Alma learns she desperately needs a heart operation she can't afford. Johnny feels he must quit the Olympic boxing team and turn professional to pay for the surgery.
Johnny is get through the early rounds and prepares for his gold medal bout in Moscow. But Johnny has an altercation with the Soviet security and must fight with bruised ribs.
