: a professional boxer who competes in matches for money prizes
Grandpa James himself was a prizefighter in Tampa before moving to Key West during the Depression … . Five years ago he coldcocked a 33-year-old man with a left hook. Rick Telander
earlier, "person participating in a prize," from prise, price, prize "sporting contest usually between two opponents, as a fencing or wrestling match" (of uncertain origin) + fighter, after fight a prize "to enter into a duel or contest"; the initial element was later taken as prize entry 1