Threatened to get better boxing champion (7)

I believe the answer is:

menaced

'threatened' is the definition.
('menace' can be a synonym of 'threaten')

'better boxing champion' is the wordplay.
'better' becomes 'mend' (mending is a kind of bettering).
'boxing' indicates putting letters inside ('box' can mean contain, as in to put in a box).
'champion' becomes 'ace' (both can mean a person excelling at something).
'mend' going around 'ace' is 'MENACED'.

'to get' is the link.

(Another definition for menaced that I've seen is " Threatened".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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