Scattered boxes close to warehouse (6)
I believe the answer is:
sparse
'scattered' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'boxes close to warehouse' is the wordplay.
'boxes' becomes 'spars' (sparring is a kind of boxing).
'close to' suggests the final letters (the close of something is the end).
The last letter of 'warehouse' is 'e'.
'spars'+'e'='SPARSE'
(Other definitions for sparse that I've seen before include "Spares, being thin on the ground" , "In short supply" , "Far from lavish" , "Meagre; scarce" , "Thinly dispersed" .)