This film follows the career of Dimitri Salita, an immigrant from Russia who dreams of a career in the fight game. He began training as a boxer at the age of 13. The film is a genuine look at a very special young man who is sensitive and thoughtful when not in the ring. He made a decision to become an Orthodox Jew. This decision could have impeded his progress in the ring. Religious Jews have dietary laws, special laws forbidding work on the Sabbath....and many other requirements which can make competition in a sport very difficult. As an immigrant who believes that America stands for freedom of religion, he refused to give up his religious ideals in order to succeed. In some ways, it is his commitment to his faith which made people respect him even more. His boxing talents however were the ultimate test. He won bout after bout....on to a title. This young man is gentle and sincere out of the ring. In the ring a totally different individual is unleashed. In my mind, Dimitri Salita is far more inspirational than Rock Balboa....although in some ways they were spurred on by the same realities. Poverty is an enormous incentive...rather the desire to lift one's self from poverty has provided the impetus for the world's greatest fighters.