Dude might be your equip...
Check what your wearing... though I may not be an expert... but my fighter is still pretty good ^.^ out during those 2 or 3 levels ahead of me ^.^
Equipment is important or almost mandatory for a fighter. Armor, shields, helmets, and boots all add alot of defence when put together and among those Armor and Shield adds the most.
So if other fighters say that they have a higher def it might be because of their equipment.
Armor is different from weapons when upgraded it doesn't have flashy animation... and those 7 points really to me doesn't play much of a role in have a "big" difference between your def and other chars def.
Easily said "Check your Equipment" ^.^
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