Coop up fighter, perhaps renowned climber? (6)
I believe the answer is:
nepali
'renowned climber?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'coop up fighter' is the wordplay.
'coop' becomes 'pen' (I've seen this before).
'up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'fighter' becomes 'Ali' (boxer Muhammad Ali).
'pen' back-to-front is 'nep'.
'nep'+'ali'='NEPALI'
'perhaps' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nepali that I've seen before include "Language of Kathmandu" , "one found in mountainous region" , "Native of one Himalayan state" , "Kathmandu native" , "Mountain-dweller" .)