Dewey Martin is cast as a Bible-quoting youngster who enters the prize ring because he thinks it’s “the Lord’s will.”
The guiding arm of his ring career is Keenan Wynn, a sharp city fight promoter who envisions a world championship with his dedicated deacon.
About the only thing that keeps Dewey from going broke is Wynn’s wife (Shelley Winters), a person warily familiar with the promotor’s ways and determined to see that the trusting youngster gets a fair shake.
As Dewey punches his way through a number of tank town opponents, he’s tended at ring-side by an ex-pug named Happy Jackfield (Earl Holliman), a sad-looking clod, who sits around and twitches while he puffs out a tune called “The Weary Blues” on a miniature harmonica.
By the time the film reaches a climax, Dewey has a wild rooting section from a local church and good-natured Happy is playing “Old Time Religion” to encourage him off of the canvas.