Crossword Genius

Be brave, like an unfortunate boxer? (4,2,2,3,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

take it on the chin

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'be brave' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'like an unfortunate boxer?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'an' could be 'i' (Roman numeral for one) and 'i' is present in the answer.
'like' could be 'taketo' (I've seen this before) and 'taketo' is present in the remaining letters.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for take it on the chin that I've seen before include "as a boxer might?" , "Accept defeat stoically" , "face the situation stoically" , "But would featureless wonders > face adversity thus" , "Be courageous" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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