Crossword Genius

Fighter stops old Chinese leader giving people a hand (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dealing

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

'a hand' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'fighter stops old chinese leader giving people' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'fighter' could be 'ali' (boxer Muhammad Ali) and 'ali' is located in the answer.
'leader' could be 'deng' (I have seen 'Chinese leader' mean 'deng' so perhaps 'leader' could also mean 'deng') and 'deng' is present in the remaining letters.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dealing that I've seen before include "Buying and selling" , "Giving out cards" , "Trading" , "Making trades (with cards?)" , "Coping" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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