Tom is a 40-year-old heavyweight boxer living in poverty in Australia. His body bears the physical toll of his difficult career, displaying a hulking frame, a repeatedly broken nose, heavily battered knuckles, and visibly hardened arteries. Despite his savage appearance and ruthless fighting style in the ring, he is a gentle, generous man in his personal life who struggles to find enough food and money to sustain his family.

Sandel is a young, energetic fighter originally from New Zealand, using his current bout to make his debut on Australia's larger boxing stage. He possesses a deep chest and supple muscles beneath white satin skin that physically separates him from the older veterans. He fights with rapid, furious movements, relying heavily on his boundless energy and rapid recovery time.

Stowsher Bill is an older boxer whom Tom defeated early in his own career. At the time of their fight, Bill was past his physical prime and dealing with the harsh financial realities of aging in a brutal sport. His emotional reaction to losing serves as a haunting memory for the older generation of fighters.

Lizzie is Tom's wife, managing their household and two children amidst severe poverty and overdue rent. She speaks in a heavy working-class accent and supports her husband's athletic efforts, though she faces the daily humiliation of being denied basic groceries by local tradesmen due to their financial standing.

Burke is a local tradesman and butcher operating in the Kings' neighborhood. He runs his business strictly, outright refusing to extend grocery credit to aging fighters who compete in second-rate clubs.

The Gouger is a professional boxer from Tom's past. He treats the violent sport purely as a business proposition, holding no personal grudges against opponents who exploit his physical vulnerabilities in the ring to win a purse.

Tom and Lizzie's unnamed children live in the family's rented Australian apartment. Their constant hunger drives their father's urgent need to secure the winner's purse in his upcoming fight.