We see it so many times: the CCTV from a pub or nightclub shows the moment a punch is thrown, the victim goes down, their head hitting the pavement and their lifeless body.

No matter how often I see it, it makes me feel sick and angry at this cowardly, disgusting violence.

There are few acts lower than punching someone who can’t see it coming and my campaign to stop the coward’s punch has run a few years but I am still passionate about it.

The support from people I admire, including Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, cricketers Brett Lee and Justin Langer, and more athletes, entertainers and influential Australians than I can name, tells me the community has had enough.

I get stopped by people in the street who see the campaign as incredibly important.

Some young blokes told me they had their fair share of fights but walked from one recently because they remembered what I said. That is very satisfying and gives me hope the message resonates with the people I’m trying to reach.

But this week we saw yet another shattered group. The family of Thomas Keaney in Ireland said they were broken after seeing via a video link his coward’s punch attacker getting a nine-year sentence.

That these horrific crimes continue tells me we all still have work to do. That’s why I joined The West Australian’s campaign to stop the violence.

For the picture on today’s front page (The West Australian on July 26, 2015), I met families whose lives were overturned by violence — fathers, mothers, children, siblings shattered because someone chose to lash out, not walk away.

It almost brought me to tears but it galvanised our aim to stamp out this violence.

Many perpetrators would give anything to take back their disastrous actions and I’m certain their families suffer when they are sent to jail. But it’s too late.

Many people might question why a professional boxer would champion this cause. The fact is, there is no one better to say what can happen when you punch someone.

There is a world of difference between consenting athletes boxing in an arena with rules and referees, and punching an unsuspecting victim with no protection.

There is no excuse for these coward’s punches. I don’t care if you’re drunk or on drugs, if someone talked to your girlfriend or spilt your drink.
If you hit them, that’s on you. It’s your decision to act like a scumbag without respect for people or decency.

You’re kidding yourself if you reckon people think you’re tough. No one sees you as anything but a gutless thug.

Call it a coward’s punch because being branded a coward is the worst thing for a bloke. Sure tempers flare and I’m not silly enough to think fights will not happen, but I implore people to think about the potential fatal ramifications of a single blow.

I am trying to reach those who usually would not make that terrible split-second decision to throw a punch and their friends.

My message is to stay calm, defuse the situation, walk away and tell your aggro mate to relax and enjoy their night.

Everyone gets home in one piece and wakes up with nothing worse than a hangover.

If I can make even one person think before striking out, that’s a victory.

Danny Green.