"Against the Ropes" is inspired by the true story of Jackie Kallen, the most successful female manager in boxing history. Meg Ryan portrays Jackie Kallen, a smart, gutsy woman who wants to break out of a dead-end job as she knows she was meant for more. She gets her chance when she sees Luther Shaw (Epps) in a brawl and knows he's a champion in the raw. Determined to follow her heart, she becomes Luther's boxing manager and convinces him that he can fight his way out of a thug life. Together with veteran trainer Felix Reynolds (Dutton), Jackie and Luther discover they need each other to realize their dreams and take the boxing world by storm.