Practiced pugilism

• Traded verbal barbs
• Practiced in the ring
• Exchanged punches
• Fought
• Worked with the champ
• Pole and Cuban possibly perhaps crossed swords
• Practiced judo, say
• Had a wordy wrangle

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. any of various nonmetallic minerals (calcite or feldspar) that are light in color and transparent or translucent and cleavable a stout rounded pole of wood or metal used to support rigging making the motions of attack and defense with the fists and arms; ...