<P> Billy `` The Great '' Hope is an undefeated professional boxer living in the suburbs of New York City with his wife Maureen and their daughter Leila . During a match in which he defends his light heavyweight world title , Billy sustains an eye injury and is convinced by Maureen to retire while he is on top . During the press conference at the post-match , an up - and - coming boxer Miguel `` Magic '' Escobar taunts Billy and tries to get Billy to fight him . At a charity event for the orphanage where he and his wife both grew up , Escobar is in attendance , and as Billy is leaving , Escobar threatens he 'll take Maureen and his title away from him , and while Maureen tells Billy to let it go and go home with her , Billy 's anger gets the best of him , leading to a brawl in which Maureen is accidentally shot and killed by Miguel 's brother Hector , who flees . </P>
<P> Billy `` The Great '' Hope is an undefeated professional boxer living in the suburbs of New York City with his wife Maureen and their daughter Leila . During a match in which he defends his light heavyweight world title , Billy sustains an eye injury and is convinced by Maureen to retire while he is on top . During the press conference at the post-match , an up - and - coming boxer Miguel `` Magic '' Escobar taunts Billy and tries to get Billy to fight him . At a charity event for the orphanage where he and his wife both grew up , Escobar is in attendance , and as Billy is leaving , Escobar threatens he 'll take Maureen and his title away from him , and while Maureen tells Billy to let it go and go home with her , Billy 's anger gets the best of him , leading to a brawl in which Maureen is accidentally shot and killed by Miguel 's brother Hector , who flees . </P>
who killed billy hope 's wife in southpaw
who killed billy hope 's wife in southpaw
Miguel 's brother Hector
Miguel 's brother Hector