When a young man finds himself trapped in his home town and surrounded by drug dealing, prostitution, violence and poverty, he knows he needs to find a way out. He boxes, but his abusive father exploits him, keeping any winnings for himself. Help comes when he meets Frank (Martin Sheen) a local physician who takes an interest in Abner and shows him how his boxing can help him escape. Just as things are looking better for him, tragedy strikes and threatens to derail everyone's attempts to get him a better life.