The film follows the lives and careers of boxing legends Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, charting their childhoods and early successes in America and Germany in the aftermath of World War I, and culminating with their two historic 1936 and 1938 matchups in the ring. The Louis vs. Schmeling bouts were among the most-watched sporting events in history and marked the highest and lowest points for both boxers’ careers. FDR’s heavyweight vs. Hitler’s champion: with the world on the brink, Louis and Schmeling personified their nations’ growing divide and made the fight between democracy and fascism literal. But years of intense rivalry ultimately led to a lifelong friendship and a special place in boxing history.