Markus’s vivid memories of raising his fists, mano a mano, led him into the working-class barrios of Havana, Mexico City, Brooklyn, and Dublin, where the odds against celebrity and high-stakes prizefighting belie the drive that motivates these young men. In a series of intimate portraits infused with purpose, determination, and the physical and emotional struggles of intense training, Markus gives a more human face to a sport that rewards only those from its highest ranks. Far from the bright lights and stereotyped fame, these young fighters possess unrivaled dignity and grace.