Antonio is a 17-year-old Puerto Rican teenager who lives in a tenement building on Manhattan's Lower East Side. He relies on boxing training at the 10th Street Boys Club to stay off the streets and dreams of winning the lightweight world championship. With a lean, lanky build, he utilizes his long reach to gain a physical advantage in the ring. He has a sensitive nature and loses sleep over the prospect of fighting his closest companion in an upcoming match.

Felix is a 17-year-old Puerto Rican aspiring boxer who lives in the same tenement as his best friend. He has a short, husky physical build and wears his hair in an Afro. His stocky frame allows him to fight aggressively as a powerful slugger at close range. Felix takes the initiative to address the awkwardness between the two teenagers and proactively seeks physical distance by staying with his aunt in the Bronx to mentally prepare for the match.