It is illegal to punch someone unless you had no choice and had to do so in self defense. You could face criminal prosecution and provokation will not make you less guilty of committing the act ( even if it might go some way to reducing your sentence).

Will you go to jail if you beat someone up?

The maximum misdemeanor sentence for this offense is up to one year in county jail. If the crime is charged as a California felony, battery causing serious bodily injury can lead to imprisonment in the State prison for: two years, three years, or.

Is beating someone up a crime?

An assault is the act of inflicting physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person or, in some specific legal definitions, a threat or attempt to commit such an action. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in criminal prosecution, civil liability, or both.