Sucker punch

This article is about the fighting move. For other uses, see Sucker punch (disambiguation).

A sucker punch is a punch made without warning, allowing no time for preparation or defense on the part of the recipient. The term is generally reserved for situations where the way in which the punch has been delivered is considered unfair or unethical. In practice, this often includes punches delivered from close-range or behind.

In boxing, a sucker punch thrown outside of the rules is illegal. For example, when James Butler knocked Richard Grant unconscious after losing a fight to him on points, his license was suspended. Because sucker punches come unexpectedly, people at risk of such blows must be alert to the proximity of potential opponents.

Culture and media

The sucker punch has been adapted into many films, video games and other forms of media. It can be used to show the antagonist's vileness, the low moral of an anti-hero, betrayal of someone close to the protagonist, etc., but it also can be used as a weapon of the protagonist to deal against an unfair situation.^{[citation needed]}