Arturo Ortega (JIMMY SMITS) is a proud, Arizona family man who wishes for his three young sons to succeed in boxing, a sport in which his earlier attempts at success failed due to mismanagement. As such, Arturo acts somewhat like a dictator while training them, something that worries his loving wife, Rita (MARIA DEL MAR).
Even so, the boys become proficient and after many years of training, have become competitors in their own right. There's Sonny (JON SEDA), the oldest and apparently most likely to succeed although he's interested in getting married and starting a family; Jimmy (CLIFTON COLLINS JR), the middle son whose lack of discipline and rebellious nature constantly frustrate Arturo; and finally Johnny (ERNESTO HERNANDEZ), the youngest son who seemingly has what it takes to be a champion despite his young age.
It's the latter who draws the attention of local, big time boxing promoter Nick Everson (RON PERLMAN) and his assistant, Pepe (PAUL RODRIGUEZ). Everson can smell Johnny and Sonny's potential, but Arturo refuses to allow anyone else to manage them. Even so, as the young men progress in the sport, yearn to break free from their father's control over their lives and careers, and ultimately succumb to unhealthy sibling rivalry, tensions begin to mount.
Simultaneously hoping for his sons to succeed while also vicariously living through their potential success, Arturo does what he can to keep his family together as the lure of big paydays and the effects of familial strife threaten to destroy everything he's worked so hard for.