After the father of her son is arrested, Ronnie struggles to make ends meet against a corrupt social system that treats working class mothers with contempt.
However, Ronnie’s quick temper sees her beat up her ex boyfriend’s corrupt social-worker girlfriend and she is sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Whilst out in NYC, Ronnie sees a poster advertising ‘Knucklers’, a nightclub featuring amateur women boxers.
When Ronnie later receives an invitation for another boxing match from the manager of Knucklers, Lovelle persuades him to up the winning prize to $10,000.
Ronnie begs her father to stop drinking and come and support her at the boxing match, promising she will take him home with her and her son if she wins.
Just before the bell Ronnie and Lovelle learn that this will be a ten-minute fight because of the higher prize money even though it appears this change is meant to favor her better trained opponent.