prizefighter
Paid ring combatant
A prizefighter is a professional boxer—someone who fights for prize money.
The term carries old-fashioned connotations of bare-knuckle bouts and smoky arenas: He had the battered face of an aging prizefighter.
Prizefighting is the sport itself, sometimes used to distinguish boxing from amateur competition.
Professional fist fighter
- sparringPractice combat training
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
- jabQuick, straight blow
- uppercutAscending boxing strike
hook · cross · knockout · bout · cornerman · trainer · footwork · defense
Closed curve shape
- cornerMeeting point of edges
- ropesBraided flexible cords
- canvasHeavy woven cloth
- bellHollow resonating instrument
rounds · referee · judges · scorecard · announcer · cutman · stool · bucket
One competing seriously
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- rivalOne who competes against
- opponentOne who contends against
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
favorite · champion · titleholder · belt · purse · bout · undercard · rematch
Top competitor, or advocate
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- undefeatedHaving never lost
- knockout artistFighter who ends bouts unconscious
- title defenseChampion defends against challenger
reign · comeback · rivalry · iconic · pound-for-pound · record · retirement · autobiography
Highest combat weight class
- welterweight147-pound boxing division
- middleweightAverage-mass fighter classification
- lightweightLacking mass or importance
- featherweightBoxing class under 126
bantamweight · flyweight · cruiserweight · supermiddleweight · catchweight · weigh-in · cutting · division
Developing abilities through practice
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- strengthPower to exert force
- agilityQuickness and ease
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
fitness · conditioning · speed · cardio · muscle · gym · roadwork · shadowboxing
pugilist
Professional fist fighter
uppercut · hook · cross · knockout · bout · cornerman · trainer · footwork · defense · southpaw
ring
Closed curve shape
bell · rounds · referee · judges · scorecard · announcer · cutman · stool · bucket · ringside
contender
One competing seriously
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- rivalOne who competes against
- opponentOne who contends against
underdog · favorite · champion · titleholder · belt · purse · bout · undercard · rematch · trilogy
champion
Top competitor, or advocate
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- undefeatedHaving never lost
- knockout artistFighter who ends bouts unconscious
title defense · reign · comeback · rivalry · iconic · pound-for-pound · record · retirement · autobiography
heavyweight
Highest combat weight class
- welterweight147-pound boxing division
- middleweightAverage-mass fighter classification
- lightweightLacking mass or importance
featherweight · bantamweight · flyweight · cruiserweight · supermiddleweight · catchweight · weigh-in · cutting · division
training
Developing abilities through practice
discipline · fitness · conditioning · speed · cardio · muscle · gym · roadwork · shadowboxing · speedbag
prizefighteramateur
Nonprofessional participant
amateur boxer · hobbyist · weekend warrior · novice · dilettante
prizefighterpacifist
Anti-violence believer
peacemaker · conscientious objector · dove · mediator · Quaker