The story behind that viral kangaroo punch video is better than you realize

The story of how a guy came to punch a kangaroo is as interesting as the video of the punch.

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You’ve probably seen the video of the guy punching a kangaroo in the face. If you haven’t, that’s really too bad, because it’s an amazing clip. Somewhere out in the Australian bush, a kangaroo puts a dog in a headlock. A man runs into the frame and assumes a fighting stance, stunning the buff marsupial with a big right hook.

On its face, the video is absolutely hilarious. The backstory actually makes it kind of touching. 

This is the full video 😂😂😂. Guy saves his dog by taking on a kangaroo. The way he looks at him after the punch 😭 pic.twitter.com/lpCIdlHSzo

— Dr Faraz Ali (@thatdermguy) December 4, 2016

News.com.au caught up one of the guys who witnessed the now legendary punch and got the story. 

It all started when Mathew Amor and a few friends organized a hunting trip with a young man named Kailem, who was dying of cancer. Kailem, who died last week after battling bone cancer for two years, wanted to catch a boar.

• Watch: Cricket player reacts in a split second to make stunning diving grab

The group was out hunting when all of a sudden a kangaroo grabbed one of their dogs. That’s when GreigTonkins, a zookeeper, ran in to box the assailant. 

The reason cameras were rolling as Tonkins ran on the scene is the group was filming a DVD for Kailem and his family as a souvenir of the trip. Amor said he thinks Kailem would get a kick out of the clip going viral. 

“Kailem would be looking down from up there [heaven] and laughing because it was the highlight of the trip,” Amor told News.com.au.