Diana Guzman is a high school student growing up in a tough and impoverished neighborhood in Brooklyn. She frequently gets into fights and struggles academically, but despite this, she dreams of becoming a boxer. When she sees a flyer for a boxing gym, she decides to give it a try.
Initially, Diana faces prejudice and skepticism from the male boxers at the gym, but she slowly gains their respect and begins to show real talent in the sport. Her coach, Hector, takes a special interest in her and helps her to hone her skills.
Meanwhile, Diana is also dealing with family issues. Her father is a widower who is overprotective of his daughter and does not approve of her interest in boxing. He wants her to focus on her studies and traditional feminine pursuits.
Diana trains hard and proves herself in the ring, but she faces obstacles both within and outside of the boxing world. She has a budding romance with one of the male boxers, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that they compete in the same weight class. Diana also faces prejudice and discrimination in the professional boxing world, with many promoters refusing to give her a chance because of her gender.
Despite these setbacks, Diana remains determined to succeed and prove herself as a boxer. She ultimately enters a high-profile tournament and faces off against a tough opponent. In the end, Diana wins the fight and finally earns the recognition and respect she has been working so hard for.
Throughout the film, Diana struggles with her relationship with her father, who becomes increasingly suspicious of her whereabouts and angry at her for pursuing boxing. When he finally learns the truth about her training and fighting, he is initially angry but ultimately comes to accept and support her choices.
Girlfight is a powerful coming-of-age story that explores themes of gender, class, and athleticism. The film received critical acclaim and launched the career of its lead actress, Michelle Rodriguez.