When society girl Judy Gelett discusses her upcoming party with her sometime paramour, Tom Warburton, he suggests that she sponsor an exhibition boxing match between Johnny Malone, the contender for the middleweight championship, and "Killer" Cullen. Tom arranges the bout with Johnny's manager, Doc Briscoe, and on the night of the party, Judy arbitrarily decides to root for Cullen, which annoys Johnny. After Johnny wins the match, he and Judy meet, and the sarcastic taunts they trade cannot hide their mutual attraction. As time passes, Johnny's deepening relationship with Judy distracts him from training for the upcoming championship fight between himself and "Hammer" Swanson. Doc, realizing that Johnny is losing the drive and discipline required to become champion, tries to persuade him not to spend so much time with Judy, but to no avail. Finally losing his patience, Doc asks Johnny to choose either the fight and his friendship, or Judy. Johnny promises Doc that he will not see Judy until after the fight, and then calls her to tell her that they must separate for the next two weeks. Late that night, however, Judy sneaks into the training camp and takes Johnny to her mansion, where they spend the early morning hours. When Johnny returns, he finds the furious Doc waiting for him. Doc berates Johnny for being manipulated by a high-society "dame" who wants "something rough for a change," after which Johnny punches him. Doc apologizes but still insists that it is time for him and Johnny to part company. Later, Johnny presses Judy to marry him, and although she does not intend for their liaison to become permanent, she reluctantly agrees to become engaged if he keeps it a secret. Soon after, Johnny weighs in for the fight at six pounds below Swanson, and the reporters quickly see that he is in terrible shape. From Johnny's casual remark that he and Judy are friends, the reporters also conclude that they are engaged. The front page stories about the wedding upset Judy, who reveals to Tom that she loves Johnny but fears her society pals will treat him cruelly. Dismayed by the seriousness of her feelings for Johnny, Judy decides to escape the situation by taking a cruise. She tries to break off their engagement, but Johnny arrives with tickets to the fight and refuses to accept her rationalization that their marriage could not work because they come from different worlds. When Johnny sees the cruise ticket, he understands why Judy has refused to attend the fight, and slaps her. At the stadium, Johnny is too dispirited to fight and is quickly knocked out by Swanson. Doc, who is in the audience, attempts to revive the unconscious fighter. After listening in horror to the radio broadcast of the fight, Judy rushes to the hospital where Johnny has been taken. Her sincerity and evident distress convince Doc that she really loves Johnny, and when Johnny awakens, Doc tells him that he will promote another fight using Judy's money. Johnny is reluctant to accept Judy's help until Doc casually remarks that she would make a good wife. Judy then convinces Johnny of her love with a kiss.