World Premiere
Syracuse Stage (2026)

Monique Jeffries was poised to be one of the greatest professional boxers in history, but years after her career has ended, she is right back where she started: running Bailey’s, her childhood gym, training finance bros with delusions of grandeur and taking directions from her former coach Johnny. As the Golden Gloves amateur tournament approaches, Monique receives a surprising offer from one of her “white collar” boxing clients: he wants to buy Bailey’s and convert it into an elite boxing facility, where they can train the best of the best and revitalize the flagging sport. But Johnny isn’t about to let that happen, and the ensuing bout between teacher and student is as intimate as it is brutal in this bare-knuckled world premiere.