The publicity romance between a prizefighter and a showgirl turns into the real thing.

When unemployed reporter Aloysius K. Reilly causes waitress Mabel O'Dare to lose her job, he decides to find her another one. Learning that Mabel can dance a little, he claims to know producer Jake Sherman, convinced that he can talk Jake into giving her a job in the chorus of his new production. Jake doesn't know Reilly and is just about to throw him and Mabel out of the rehearsal when Toddy Williams, the star, walks out of the show. For revenge, Jake casts Mabel in the lead even though she isn't a very good dancer. The night before her opening, she is still practicing her routine, and the noise she makes keeps her downstairs neighbor, boxer Larry Cain, awake. Because he has a big boxing match the next day, Larry asks Mabel to quit, but she refuses, and they quarrel. Larry wins the championship, but his lack of charisma in the ring keeps the crowds away. Mabel's show is doing poorly, until Reilly has the bright idea of concocting a romance between Mabel and Larry. Although they really hate each other, the publicity about their phony affair has the desired result. They continue to battle until Larry discovers that Mabel used to be a waitress. He confesses that his dream is to retire to New Jersey and run a garage. They decide to marry and fulfill Larry's dream. Overhearing their plans, Reilly plots to prevent the elopement. He leaks the story to the papers, and Mabel and Larry each think the other has betrayed the secret. When Mabel finally learns the truth, she flies to Philadelphia where Larry is fighting. Larry loses the match, but Mabel's bet on the other fighter provides a nest egg for their future.