Born in a brothel, Ruth doesn’t expect much for herself beyond abuse. While her sister’s beauty affords a certain degree of comfort, Ruth’s harsh looks set her on a path of drudgery. That is until she meets pugilist patron George Dryer and discovers her true calling --- fighting bare knuckles in the prize rings of Bristol. Scarred by smallpox, stifled by her social and romantic options, and trapped in twisted power games with her wastrel brother, manor-born Charlotte is desperate for an escape. After a disastrous, life-changing fight sidelines Ruth, the two women meet, and it alters the perspectives of both of them.