Facing pressure from his father (Lee J. Cobb) to pursue a career as a concert violinist, Joe Bonaparte (William Holden) -- persuaded by the lovely Lorna Moon (Barbara Stanwyck) -- instead turns his talents to a more lucrative vocation: prizefighting. Joe soon becomes a top boxer but comes to regret his decision when a racketeer (Joseph Calleia) buys his contract. Adolphe Menjou plays a slimy promoter who manipulates the naïve Joe.