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In a plot, the beefy brute fought (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

boxed

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'fought' is the definition.
(boxing is a kind of fighting)

'in a plot the beefy brute' is the wordplay.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'a plot' becomes 'bed' (a plot of land).
'the beefy brute' becomes 'ox' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'bed' placed around 'ox' is 'BOXED'.

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I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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