John has been arrested in a Southern state with a Black man for trespassing on train property. In the small town he finds himself in, the law is very different than that of a typical city, with the barber doubling as a judge who sentences him to 10 days in jail. Because the sheriff gets word that he's a good boxer, he considers letting him out to go against another local boxer for a fight that night. The sheriff decides to release him, so John meets his overconfident opponent, Valiant, that night. Just before the fight, Valiant tries to intimidate him, to no avail. The fight begins, and though Valiant gets a few hits in, he stands no chance against John, who consistently, powerfully punches him. After only a few rounds out of the planned ten, Valiant storms out of the room as the crowd boos him. On the other hand, John is praised for being such a gifted fighter, so the sheriff and his cop buddies decide to take him to a bar to celebrate. While there, the owner, Noreen, congratulates John and serves the trio burgers as they become heavily intoxicated on homemade liquor. Noreen informs another customer at the bar, Sissie, about John's feat against Valiant, to which she kisses him twice, happy to hear that Valiant got beat up. Sissie's interest in John seems to upset the sheriff, who drives him back to the jail hastily, speeding drunkenly on the empty road. The sheriff releases the other people who were being held for the train violation, all except for John, so that he can make room for some people arrested for moonshine. John is upset that he doesn't get his freedom, but the sheriff promises to make it up to him by turning him into a big boxing star.