Crossword Genius

I maintain champion has lost his head (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

upholder

'i maintain' is the definition.
(someone who maintains or upholds something)

'champion has lost his head' is the wordplay.
'champion' becomes 'cupholder' (someone who has won a cup).
'has lost his head' means to remove the first letter.
'cupholder' with its first letter taken away is 'UPHOLDER'.

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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