In Boxing, What Does "Rabbit Punches" Mean?

Question

I don't know much about boxing. In almost all of the ROCKY movies when the ref explains the rules he always says to "watch it with the rabbit punches".

What does that mean?

Answer 1

you know we cant answer anymore since the question was already answered. so if i were you the best answer would be the second guy's

Answer 2

punches to the back of the head

Answer 3

back of the head

Answer 4

The father of the Rabbit punch was 1940's Australian boxer Aaron Mulheron, he would use it to subdue his opponents then finish them off when they were disorientated. The move was eventually banned in 1941. It is a punch to the neck or to the base of the skull & is considered dangerous because it can damage the cervical vertebrae and subsequently the spinal cord, which may lead to serious spinal cord injury or even death.

The technique did come from hunters who used it to kill rabbits with a quick, sharp strike to the back of the head with a blunt object.

Answer 5

Iceman is technically correct, but the reason behind making punching behind the head illegal is that the 7th cervical vertebrae is easily dislodged by a blow, causing paralysis and sometimes death.  In most marital arts it is a killing blow, and the reason you never turn your back on an opponent.  Bend your head down so than your chin rests on your chest, and reach behind your neck to where it joins your back to feel the protrusion made by your cervical vertebrae joining your lumbar vertebrae and understand the serious damage you can do to a person if you strike this spot so as to be aware of the danger.  

The term "Rabbit Punch" is a direct reference to the manner in which rabbits were killed with a blow to the back of their neck prior to butchering for the pot.  The comparison is obvious when striking a human there.

Answer 6

short punches and real fast in a row

Answer 7

punch to the back of the head. Highly illegal and is grounds for disqualification as it can be a deadly strike