The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pugilist \Pu"gil*ist\, n. [L. pugil.]
   One who fights with his fists; esp., a professional prize
   fighter; a boxer.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

pugilist
    n 1: someone who fights with his fists for sport [syn: boxer,
         pugilist]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

69 Moby Thesaurus words for "pugilist":
   Chinese boxer, amateur athlete, archer, athlete, ballplayer,
   bantamweight, baseballer, baseman, batter, battery, battler,
   black belt, blocking back, bowman, boxer, brown belt, bruiser,
   catcher, center, champ, coach, combatant, competitor, contender,
   contestant, cricketer, defensive lineman, end, featherweight,
   fighter, fisticuffer, flyweight, footballer, games-player,
   gamester, guard, heavyweight, infielder, jock, jumper,
   karate expert, light heavyweight, lightweight, lineman,
   middleweight, offensive lineman, outfield, outfielder, palooka,
   player, poloist, prizefighter, professional athlete, pug,
   quarterback, racer, savate expert, scrapper, skater, slugger,
   sparrer, sport, sportsman, tackle, tailback, toxophilite,
   welterweight, wingback, wrestler