Success corrupts a young prizefighter and leads him to neglect his wife.

Boxer Ritzy McCarty has managed to make a minor career for himself under the management of his wife Joan, despite his lack of a solid punch. His active footwork in the ring and colorful personality pleases the crowds and wins matches. Although Ritzy wants to try for the championship, Joan just wants him to stay in the game until he earns enough money to buy a vineyard. Ritzy's crowd pleasing techniques catch the eyes of Gavin and Stephens, two promoters. They are interested in taking over his management, but Joan drives a hard bargain, part of which is her continued participation in Ritzy's career. Under Gavin and Stephens, Ritzy starts fighting in better venues, where he attracts the attention of commercial artist Patricia Merrill. Patricia invites Ritzy to pose for her, and because he amuses her, their relationship develops into something more. Joan tolerates the affair because it does not seem to threaten their marriage. Then Ritzy learns that he has been winning matches because his opponents have been paid to take a dive. When he discovers that Joan agreed to these conditions, he leaves, accusing her of being a crook. Ritzy is suspended for fighting in a fixed fight. Now that he is no longer on top of things, Patricia loses interest in Ritzy as well. One day, Joan finds him sleeping in a train station and slips some money into his pocket. Finally he gets a job attracting customers to a health lecture. Patricia sees the ad and attends the lecture to talk to him. She invites him to visit her that evening, but when he arrives at the address she gave him, a pregnant Joan is waiting for him. Determined to obtain money for his child, Ritzy accepts an offer to take a dive for one hundred dollars. When his name is announced at the match, the crowd boos, expecting a set-up. However, Ritzy puts up a good fight, and when he hears that Joan has given birth to a boy, knocks out his opponent. The gangsters who hired him are furious and subject him to a beating. Impressed by the fair fight, however, reporter Rankin and Stephens visit him in the hospital and offer to put him back in the game, this time on the level.