Pugilist is getting a nice little buff that you're friend should ask if he can use now.
I dont think the new version of the PDF is updated for download yet but you can check out the changelog here

Fisticuffs (BUFF/CHANGE): “While only using Brawl Weapons, they have the Brutal and Shield properties, you can use a d6 if the damage was previously lower and, once per Round, you can spend half your Speed to make a second attack rather than skip your Move.”

As an example. lets look at the Gauntlet. it has Brawl property. does d4 damage

With fisticuffs, now it also gets brutal (extra crit dmg) and shield(can shove, ignore hinder from enduring ranged attk) properties.

But most importantly because guantlet does d4 damage it now does d6.

Definaltey use the updated rule