A young fighter and an elderly trainer try to trade their shaky futures in for a championship belt in this independent drama. Tommy Riley (J.P. Davis) is a boxer whose young career is already in decline; while he has talent, he also has personal demons to contend with, a sloppy style in the ring, and is still trying to get over a bad breakup with his girlfriend Stephanie (Christina Chambers). As Tommy tries to find a way back into the spotlight, he meets Marty Goldberg (Eddie Jones), an aging former fighter who struggles to make ends meet. Marty thinks he knows how to channel Tommy's gifts and make him the successful fighter he could be, though he soon discovers getting past Tommy's emotional defenses is no small task. In time, Marty grooms Tommy into a comeback kid, and they develop a powerful emotional bond, but when a secret from Marty's past unexpectedly rises to the surface, it threatens to undo all the two friends have accomplished together. Fighting Tommy Riley was written by co-star J.P. Davis, who stipulated that he be cast in the title role before he would allow his script to be used.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide