Crossword Genius

Success by American boxing amateur offers a break (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hiatus

'a break' is the definition.
(hiatus is a kind of break)

'success by american boxing amateur' is the wordplay.
'success' becomes 'hit' (hit is a kind of success**).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'american' becomes 'us'.
'boxing' is an insertion indicator ('box' can mean contain, as in to put in a box).
'amateur' becomes 'a'.
'hit'+'us'='hitus'
'hitus' enclosing 'a' is 'HIATUS'.

'offers' is the link.

(Other definitions for hiatus that I've seen before include "Gap, interruption" , "A break or gap in series or sequence" , "Break -- respite" , "A gap or pause in the middle" , "A lacuna or interruption" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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