Boxing Clever: Tiny Cryptic #5

March 26, 2025

The fifth instalment in our series of extremely small and free-form cryptic crossword puzzles, published every two weeks to coincide with our latest essay on which the puzzle will be themed.

This puzzle set by Tope is themed on our essay Jack London, Jack Johnson, and the Fight of the Century.

You can print the puzzle or fill it in online. Join our newsletter to be informed when the next one is published and see the answers to this grid.

Scroll through the whole page to download all images before printing.
Across

1. Care about career (4)
6. Cell phone, over 50% discharged by third hour, run out by noon (6)
7. Lobby for vital energy reform? No, stopped by a politician (8)
8. Against most poetry unless at the fringes (6)
10. Section of website addresses ship taking on drag (5)

Down

2. Saucy main (4)
3. Key nemesis mostly tormented opponents (7)
4. Boxing up fancy gifts with pink paper, to exchange with half-limp Frenchman (8)
5. Can deliver a shot (5)
7. Doorstep announced as place to lie after final knock? (6)
9. Romp essential component of swinger outing (4)

New to cryptic crosswords? Our clues should typically be on the easier end so could be a good place to get started! (Check out this guide from The Nation and this video from the New Yorker.)

See all the puzzles in the series here.