Boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded in life after nearly being KO'd by drugs and crime.

Claude and Ellen are best friends who live in a not-so-nice area of New York. They are involved in the subculture of 90's youth complete with drugs, live music, and homophobia. All is changed one night when a violent and meaningless death rocks their lives.