Crossword Genius

Fight blows up (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spar

'fight' is the definition.
(I know that spar is a more specific form of the action box)

'blows up' is the wordplay.
'blows' becomes 'raps' (rap is a kind of blow).
'up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'raps' back-to-front is 'SPAR'.

(Other definitions for spar that I've seen before include "dispute" , "Go a few rounds with the ship's pole" , "microcrystalline mineral?" , "Mineral; plane's wing beam" , "Box (gently) - fight (verbally)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph, The Guardian and The Globe and Mail.
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