Sucker punch explained

A sucker punch (American English), also known as a cheap shot, coward punch, one-punch attack, or dog shot[1] (Australian English), is a punch thrown at the recipient unprovoked and without warning,[2] allowing no time for preparation or defense on their end. The term is generally used in situations where the way in which the punch has been delivered is considered unfair or unethical, and is done using deception or distraction.

In boxing, a sucker punch—as is done when 'hitting on the break',—is illegal. For example, when James Butler knocked Richard Grant unconscious after losing a fight to him on points, his license was suspended and he served four months in prison. It is often thrown from behind—such as in the 'knockout game'—although striking from behind is not a prerequisite for a sucker punch. In 2021, notable figures in the MMA community, such as UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman, called for legal changes and 'coward punch laws'. In 2014, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria all introduced such laws.[3]

As a crime

Australia

Between 2012 and 2014, significant media attention was paid to two violent killings involving one-hit punches in Australia, one of which being the death of Thomas Kelly.[4] [5] Noting that 91 people had died in Australia in the previous fourteen years from brain trauma as a result of being hit, a media campaign was launched to refer to them as coward punches.[6] [7] This campaign was supported by the New South Wales Government.[7] [8] [9]

Following the deaths of two teenagers from "one punch" assaults, New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell announced in January 2014 that the state would introduce new legislation to toughen sentences against drunken violence including "coward punch" assaults. These measures include minimum eight-year sentences for fatal one-punch assaults influenced by drugs or alcohol.[10] The Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Assault and Intoxication) Act 2014 amended the Crimes Act 1900 to introduce a new offence: "Assault Causing Death." Under sections 25A and 25B of the Crimes Act, intoxicated offenders convicted of assault causing death can face a minimum jail term of eight years and a maximum jail term of 25 years. In addition, Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 was amended to allow for the testing of offenders charged with assault causing death for intoxication.[11] In December 2017, a Sydney man named Hugh Garth became the first person to be sentenced under the new "one punch" law to ten years for an assault causing death in 2014.[12]

In addition, other one-punch laws were introduced in Victoria and Queensland in 2014.[13] [14] In August 2014, the Queensland Parliament passed the Safe Night Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 which amends the Criminal Code that introduces a 15-year minimum term for those convicted of fatal one-punch attacks. In September 2014, the Victorian government introduced the Sentencing Amendment (Coward's Punch Manslaughter and Other Matters) Bill 2014 that treats one-punch attacks as manslaughter subject to a ten-year minimum sentence.

In February 2018, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton ordered the deportation of New Zealander Caleb Maraku using a character test provision of the Migration Act 1958. Maraku had been convicted of a one punch attack against another youth in Queensland's Gold Coast in November 2017; receiving a 12-month probationary sentence for assault and being ordered to pay a A$361 fine. He was also discharged without conviction. Maraku's perceived lenient sentence and insensitive post-sentencing behaviour had drawn significant media attention and public criticism. Australian boxer Kerry Foley had challenged Maraku to fight while a petition calling for his deportation attracted 50,000 signatures.[15] [16] Commenting on Maraku's deportation, Dutton said:

New Zealand

In September 2018, National Party Member of Parliament Matt King submitted his Crimes (Coward Punch Causing Death) Amendment Bill, which would have created a 20-year prison term for one-punch attacks causing deaths. The bill was debated on 17 June 2020 but was defeated due to opposition from the incumbent Labour-led coalition government, which contended that New Zealand already had legislation dealing with one-punch attacks.[17] [18] Following the defeat of the Coward Punch Amendment Bill, King launched a "One Punch Can Kill campaign" to promote "one punch" legislation based on the New South Wales law. This campaign was supported by professional boxer Joseph Parker and his trainer Kevin Barry.

Following a one punch attack on mixed martial artist Fau Vake in May 2021, fellow mixed martial artist Israel Adesanya called for the introduction of legislation dealing with one punch attacks in New Zealand.[19] [20] Following Vake's death from his injuries, the conservative justice advocacy group Sensible Sentencing Trust sponsored a petition calling for tougher laws dealing with "one punch" attacks.[21]

United States

The term "sucker punch" was widely discussed after the New York Jets' starting quarterback, Geno Smith, was sucker punched by a fellow player, IK Enemkpali, on August 11, 2015. The altercation was in the locker room about compensation regarding a $600 airplane ticket.[22]

Culture and media

Australian soap operas Neighbours and Home and Away have covered the topic in storylines broadcast in September 2014 and October 2015 respectively.[23] [24]

Sucker Punch is the name of a 2011 film by Zack Snyder.

Maggie Lindemann released an album titled Suckerpunch on September 16, 2022.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.oup.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/146859/Oxford-Word-of-the-Month-October-2019-dog-shot.pdf Oxford Word of the Month October 2019: Dog Shot
  2. Web site: Coward Punch Campaign – Stop The Coward Punch . 2024-05-15 . cowardpunchcampaign.com.
  3. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/i-am-distraught-israel-adesanya-calls-for-coward-punch-laws-after-fellow-mma-fighter-attacked/QX6WXDKKY6CQPM3NPJQ3LIO6AU/
  4. News: Police charge builder who allegedly coward-punched Daniel Christie with murder. Amy. Dale. The Daily Telegraph. 12 January 2014. 17 January 2014.
  5. News: Thomas Kelly murder case: timeline. Brenden. Hills. The Daily Telegraph. 16 November 2013. 17 January 2014.
  6. News: NSW cops, pollies, docs call out 'cowards'. Sophie. Tarr. The Courier-Mail. 3 January 2014. 17 January 2014.
  7. News: Push to refer to king hit attacks as 'coward punches' after teen left in coma. ABC online. 3 January 2014. 17 January 2014.
  8. News: Needham. Kirsty. Sydney teen dies following king-hit punch. 16 January 2014. The Examiner. 11 January 2013.
  9. News: Pearlman. Jonathan. Australia leading the way in crackdown on one-punch killers. 1 March 2014. The Daily Telegraph.
  10. News: Australia 'one-punch' laws announced in New South Wales . 5 January 2022 . . 1 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201042553/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-25805873 . 1 December 2021. live.
  11. Web site: Nedim . Ugur . One Punch Laws' – The Offence of Assault Causing Death in NSW . Sydney Criminal Lawyers . 5 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211129211043/https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/one-punch-laws-the-offence-of-assault-causing-death-in-nsw/ . 29 November 2021 . 2 July 2019 . live.
  12. News: Australia 'one-punch' attack: First man jailed under new law . 5 January 2022 . . 8 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210218165103/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42274932 . 18 February 2021. live.
  13. News: One-punch killers to spend 10 years in jail under new Victorian laws . 14 January 2022 . . . 17 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032943/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-17/one-punch-killers-to-get-10-years-jail-under-new-victorian-laws/5676346 . 12 November 2020.
  14. Web site: Charles . Jackie . Mash up – 'One Punch' Laws in Australia 2014 . Rule of Law Education Centre . 14 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210515132104/https://www.ruleoflaw.org.au/mash-one-punch-laws-australia/ . 15 May 2021 . 27 August 2014 . live.
  15. News: Wolfe . Natalie . Coward-punch Kiwi Caleb Maraku to be deported back to New Zealand . 14 January 2022 . . 19 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210601073019/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/coward-punch-kiwi-caleb-maraku-to-be-deported-back-to-new-zealand/MNMWR2OX7363DI24G7G7ZJFQGI/ . 1 June 2021. live.
  16. News: Kerr . Florence . One-punch deportee back to Waikato . 14 January 2022 . . 22 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201110220145/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/101559623/onepunch-deportee-back-to-waikato . 10 November 2020. live.
  17. News: Ling . Jenny . Northland MP Matt King 'hugely disappointed' coward's punch bill voted down . 14 January 2022 . . 20 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201006015110/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=12341234 . 6 October 2020. live.
  18. News: Thomas . Jackson . Victim 'confused and angry' after government votes down coward punch bill . 14 January 2022 . . 2 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200702095038/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300047436/victim-confused-and-angry-after-government-votes-down-coward-punch-bill . 2 July 2020.
  19. News: Holland . Zoe . 'I am distraught': Israel Adesanya calls for 'coward punch laws' after fellow MMA fighter attacked . 14 January 2022 . . 18 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210603235052/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/i-am-distraught-israel-adesanya-calls-for-coward-punch-laws-after-fellow-mma-fighter-attacked/QX6WXDKKY6CQPM3NPJQ3LIO6AU/ . 3 June 2021. live.
  20. News: Renewed calls for 'coward's punch' law change after pro fighter attacked . 14 January 2022 . . 19 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210524004739/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/442871/renewed-calls-for-coward-s-punch-law-change-after-pro-fighter-attacked . 24 May 2021. live.
  21. News: Petition calling for harsher 'coward punch' laws reaches 15,000 signatures in wake of MMA fighter's death . 14 January 2022 . . . 24 May 2021.
  22. News: Geno Smith out 6-10 weeks; 'sucker punch' over $600 dispute . . Rich Cimini and Adam Schefter . August 12, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150812060138/http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/08/new_york_jets_alterc_creates_ration.html . August 12, 2015 . August 12, 2015 . live .
  23. Web site: Neighbours' James Mason on Chris's future: 'Challenging stories ahead'. Kilkelly. Daniel. 26 September 2014. Digital Spy. 15 May 2016.
  24. Web site: Home and Away spoilers: Josh Barrett left fighting for his life after coward punch. Dainty. Sophie. 12 October 2015. Digital Spy. 15 May 2016.