Eddie Willis is a has-been sportswriter hired as a publicist by Nick Benko to promote his new fighter imported from Argentina, Toro Moreno. Benko fixes many fights to get Toro a match with ex-champ Gus Dundee who collapses in the ring as they fight and dies. Toro thinks he has killed him. Unwilling to fight again, but desperate to make money for his parents, Toro fights Buddy Brannen. Willis is shocked at Toro's take, $49.70 and vows revenge on the fight game.