Flogged, as boxer may be (6)
I believe the answer is:
belted
'flogged' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'boxer may be' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'be' is within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'as' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for belted that I've seen before include "whacked" , "Chastised - like an earl!" , "beaten" , "Dealt a heavy blow" , "as an earl may be" .)