Possible Clues:

• What a blow when one was in such a pickled state, by the sound of it
• For such a pickled sound, see 23 down
• Being in a pickled state, by the sound of it, became aggressive
• Battered, possibly in the ring
• How you get a pickled sound with a battery
• Set upon
• Being in a pickled state, by the sound of it, became offensive
• When it came to blows, one was in a pickled state, by the sound of it
• A pickled sound, when it came to blows
• Attacked violently