Set in both the late 80's and current day, "Back in the Day" is a gritty tale about Anthony Rodriguez (William DeMeo), a half Italian, half Puerto Rican teenager growing up on the streets of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; a then very dangerous and racist neighborhood filled with bullies, big shots, and social clubs where all of the neighborhood shots were called.

Anthony endured an abusive, unemployed, alcoholic father, but was blessed with a nurturing, hard-working mother who he loses at an early age and he is devastated. He struggles to uphold the morals his mother taught him and to retain his dignity, even with the odds stacked against him.

He is taken under the wing by local mob boss Enzo Agostino (Michael Madsen), who supports Anthony's wishes to escape his demons through the sport of boxing. Enzo connects Anthony with a trainer (Danny Glover) who means business and turns Anthony into a contender. As he journeys into adulthood with the nearly impossible goal of achieving a successful professional boxing career, Anthony manages to not only go pro, but literally fight his way to the top and become a world champion middleweight boxer.

But not without love, loss of love, humiliation, retaliation, and revenge playing roles in his journey. When he finally does make it to the top, will anyone Anthony has ever cared about be left to share it with? And who will be left to get in the way of Anthony's success, and his ability to live his dream?