Before the Tenth Count

Undefeated American boxing champion Avery Knox suffers a flare-up of an old shoulder injury backstage at the world championship weigh-in ceremony, and is accidentally witnessed by British challenger Sienna Blake. Sienna needs the champion's prize money to save a community boxing gym in London, while Avery must hold on to his belt to escape the long-term control of promoter Vivian Cross. The two are arranged to attend a joint promotional training camp, and from open hostility and secret mutual aid, their feelings grow into an attraction they can no longer hide. Sienna then discovers that Vivian has tampered with Avery's medical clearance, but is forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement because her gym's mortgage is being held hostage. When Avery finds the agreement, he mistakenly believes Sienna approached him to learn about his injury and attack his weakness in the ring. During the championship fight, Sienna refuses to strike Avery's injured shoulder, yet unexpectedly wins when the referee stops the bout; immediately after, she has everything taken away by a forged doping test result. A furious Avery gives testimony at the hearing, personally causing Sienna to be suspended. When evidence proves that the sample was switched by Vivian, Avery publicly returns the belt and admits his testimony mixed fact with revenge born of betrayal. Even after being cleared, Sienna refuses to reconcile immediately. In the end, without a champion, a contract, or media manipulation, the two reaffirm their choice of each other in an exhibition match in which no score is kept.