cham·pi·on / ˈchampēən/ • n. 1. a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, esp. in sports. 2. a person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else. ∎ hist. a knight who fought in single combat on behalf of the monarch.• v. [tr.] support the cause of; defend: priests who championed human rights.

Champion ★★★½ 1949

An ambitious prizefighter alienates the people around him as he desperately fights his way to the top. When he finally reaches his goal, he is forced to question the cost of his success. From a story by Ring Lardner. Certainly one of the best films ever made about boxing, with less sentiment than “Rocky” but concerned with sociological correctness. 99m/B VHS, DVD . Kirk Douglas, Arthur Kennedy, Marilyn Maxwell, Ruth Roman, Lola Albright, Paul Stewart; D: Mark Robson; W: Carl Foreman; C: Franz Planer; M: Dimitri Tiomkin. Oscars ’49: Film Editing.

champion fighting man; one who fights on behalf of another. XIII. — (O)F. :- medL. campio, f. campus field, CAMP.
Hence champion vb. †challenge XVII; fight on behalf of XIX.