Legal strikes are considered those done with a clenched fist, which is a punch thrown with fists between opponents. Standard face-to-face punches are legal from the waist to the top of the head, including fighting in the clinch. Participants in the clinch may hold their opponent by the back of the neck in a downward position and punch any legal strike zone of the opponent, with the exception of punches to the back of the head.
N.M. Admin. Code § 15.6.21.28