Crossword Genius

Boxer put dog on middle of his table (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pugilist

'boxer' is the definition.
(I know that boxer can be written as pugilist)

'dog on middle of his table' is the wordplay.
'dog' becomes 'pug' (pug is a kind of dog).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'middle of' indicates the central letters.
'table' becomes 'list'.
The middle of 'his' is 'i'.
'pug'+'i'+'list'='PUGILIST'

'put' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for pugilist that I've seen before include "Prize fighter" , "Fist fighter" , "A professional boxer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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