The Abysmal Brute is the story of natural grace pitted against worldly brutishness. A subtle social drama played out in the arena of sport—in a day long before sport moved to the center of American culture—it is also a rousing romantic tale in the tradition of one of our great storytellers. As Pat hones his skill—and his curious style—on one champion fighter after another, he contends for the heart of a lovely admirer and for the soul of professional boxing, whose rampant corruption his blows expose.