Ciro is a young boxer. He lives in the old quartier of Ventaglieri, in the historical centre of Naples. He is a quiet boy who practices a gory sport and faces difficulties with tenderness and silent tenaciousness as a real champion. The film tells about silences, breaths, bodies, boxing rings, the fans' screams, Ciro's tenderness contrasting the crudity of the boxing, the relationship with his mother, his girlfriend Annarita and his two mentors: Geppino Silvestri, one of the greatest Italian boxing trainers and his son Lino, who have taken care of Ciro since he was thirteen years old. Ciro wants to make the grade: he gets demoralized, he closes up inside himself, but finds again the strenght and starts over.