Snake Wamberson is known more for his physical presence than his fighting prowess. Despite his impressive build, Snake's lack of courage becomes evident whenever he faces a formidable opponent. Residing in San Francisco and competing in lesser-known clubs, Snake carefully selects weak opponents to maintain his facade of a formidable boxer. His vanity and laziness keep him in the boxing world, despite his aversion to actual fighting.

The story takes a turn when a fight promoter, tired of Snake's antics and last-minute withdrawals from fights, decides to teach him a lesson by setting up a match against a supposed "big raw sailor boy," which Snake reluctantly accepts, believing he's been given an easy opponent. To his horror, on the night of the fight, Snake discovers his actual opponent is Steve Costigan, a name he himself falsely boasted of fighting soon. In a panic, Snake attempts to flee but is forced into the ring, only to be knocked out with a single punch by Costigan, much to the promoter's delight and Snake's humiliation.

After this debacle, Snake flees to Alabama, seeking to start anew. He quickly becomes the center of attention in a small community, weaving tales of his fabricated boxing victories to impress the locals, particularly a woman named Astoria. His lies go unchallenged until a real challenge emerges from an unexpected source: Tommy Wicks, a timid but large local man pushed by his unrequited love for Astoria and egged on by his friend Sammy Gupson. The fight is arranged, but in a twist, Panther Horton, a real and formidable boxer, replaces Tommy last minute to defend his sister-in-law's honor. In a chaotic and comic conclusion, Snake accidentally knocks out Horton, thanks to a painful incentive from a spectator, and flees the scene, leaving his false reputation and troubles behind.