Rabbit punch

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A rabbit punch is a blow delivered to the back of the head or to the base of the skull, notorious for its potential to cause severe and irreversible injuries, including spinal cord injury or even instant death.

Etymology

The term "rabbit punch" dates back to the early 20th century,^[1] which derives from a hunting technique where a quick, sharp strike to the back of a rabbit's head was used to ensure a swift kill without damaging the fur, considered a humane method for killing injured or trapped rabbits.^[2]

Legality and risks

Rabbit punches are illegal across all major combat sports, including boxing,^[3] MMA,^[4] and other combat sports^[5] that involve striking due to the significant risk they pose to the spinal cord and brain stem. Such strikes can lead to catastrophic injuries, including paralysis, severe brain damage, or death, due to the vulnerability of the back of the head and neck area. The only exceptions are no-holds-barred events such as the International Vale Tudo Championship (prior to rule changes in mid-2012).^[6]

Notable incidents

Several high-profile incidents have underscored the dangers of rabbit punches:

On October 17, 2015, Prichard Colón, a well known boxer, was struck on the back of the head multiple times by his opponent, Terrel Williams by using the rabbit punch. During the match, Colón experienced dizziness as a result of the illegal punches. After the match ended, Colón began to tremble from his legs and started to vomit. He was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with brain bleeding and underwent surgery. He was in a coma for 221 days (7 months, 1 week) until he was transferred to his mother's house. As a result of the injuries he sustained, Colón fell into a persistent vegetative state where he no longer could move or talk. As of July 2021, 6 years after the fight, Colón is making more progress and is getting treatment for his condition, but is still expected to remain in a vegetative state.^[7]
Francisco Leal died from severe brain and brain stem damage in 2013 after a match with Raul Hirales, where a rabbit punch was involved.^{[citation needed]}

Tim Hague, an ex-UFC fighter, died following a boxing match against Adam Braidwood in 2017, with rabbit punches contributing to a fatal brain hemorrhage.^{[citation needed]}

On June 29, 2014, soccer referee John Bieniewicz was punched in the neck by Baseel Abdul Amir Saad, an upset player in an amateur match he was officiating in Livonia, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Bieniewicz died two days later of his injuries, and Saad was charged with second-degree murder.^[8] Bieniewicz's autopsy showed that the force of the impact on the left side of his neck just below the base of his skull had resulted in a rare injury with twisted and torn arteries around the base of his skull, knocking him out before he hit the ground. ^[9] In 2015, Saad pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a sentence of 8 to 15 years in prison.^[10]

Lin Yu-Ting Incident (2024 Summer Olympics). On August 8, 2024, during the women's featherweight semifinal at the Paris Olympics, Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting was involved in a controversy for allegedly using a rabbit punch against Turkish opponent Esra Yildiz Kahraman. Lin reportedly struck Kahraman in the back of the head repeatedly while Kahraman was turned and on the ropes, an action viewed by some as a clear rabbit punch. Despite the audience's loud disapproval and Kahraman's subsequent protest, Lin received only a verbal reprimand from the referee. The lack of a point deduction may have been influenced by sensitivity towards the scrutiny Lin faced amid the broader context of gender eligibility debates, including chromosome testing.^[11]

Penalties and enforcement

References