Upon his release, Danny finds that his old neighborhood is still divided by the religious and political conflict of Northern Ireland. He quickly discovers that his former IRA comrades are now pursuing peace through political means, while the hardliners who remain loyal to the cause view him as a traitor for leaving prison without a fight.
Despite pressure from both sides to return to his former life, Danny instead puts everything into rebuilding his old gym and becoming a boxer once again. He also reconnects with Maggie, who is now married with a son. Despite their feelings for each other, they both know that they cannot act on them due to Maggie's commitments to her family.
As Danny's boxing career begins to take off once again, tensions in his community continue to rise. When a young member of the IRA is killed during a riot, Danny is forced to choose between his loyalty to his old comrades and his newfound dedication to boxing and his community.
In the end, Danny decides to stand up to the hardliners and fight for peace. He takes on a younger boxer, who represents the new generation of Northern Ireland, in a highly publicized bout that becomes a symbol for hope and unity in the midst of conflict.
The Boxer is a powerful and moving story about the struggle for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, with outstanding performances from Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson.
