Distinctions that have to be fought for (6,7)

'distinctions' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'have to be fought for' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'have' could be 'honour' (honouring is a kind of having) and 'honour' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'battles' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'that' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?