The Fire Inside tells the story of Claressa Shields and her early life in Flint, Michigan where she trained with a volunteer boxing coach. She’s now considered the world’s greatest woman boxer.

The Fire Inside features Ryan Destiny as the teen Claressa, She began boxing at age 11 as a way to escape her painful home life. She had two younger siblings, her father was in prison, and her mother (Olunike Adeliyi) was the essence of a bad mother.

Even though her family was problematic, Claressa supports and cares for them now that she is successful. The film shows all the hard work, effort, self-doubt, and soul searching she went through as she fought her way to win two back to back Olympic gold medals (something no other boxer has ever done, male or female) in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

Claressa ran miles to the gym every day to work with volunteer coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry). A former boxer himself, he’d never coached a girl before. He saw the potential in her. By the time Claressa was ready to compete in her second Olympic games, Jason Crutchfield was coach, mentor, therapist, reality check, provider of a couch and food in his family’s home, and her greatest supporter.

Her family didn’t support her, at least until all of Flint, Michigan rose up to support her when she won her first Olympic gold. Endorsements and sponsorships didn’t flow to women boxers the way they do in other sports. Advertisers couldn’t figure out what to do with her. Claressa almost gave up.

When she finally agreed to train for a second Olympics, she did it only after insisting that her money be equal to that of the men. And not just her money, but the money earned by every woman boxer. Fighting and winning the battle for equal pay was her biggest win in some ways.

The Fire Inside was directed by Rachel Morrison from a screenplay written by Barry Jenkins.

At the end of the film we see some film of the real Claressa and we learn a little more about her life after the film ends. She turned professional and has won every world title. Wikipedia lists all her awards and her Instagram has lots of photos.

Prime Video has this inspirational film about an American hero streaming now.