I went through something similar, roughly a year ago. Look, untill the 2 sides of the story are at least disclosed a lil, or we have an idea what the grounds for the confrontation were, don't be so quick to judge. There is always a point where you draw the line with being disrespected, unless your a spineless bitch that is, and yes, that means knocking someone up side the head at work if it is needed, job be damned.
Six months was my limit of listening to a newly hired guy in his 50's threating me, threating my job, slacking off to the point i had to come in on the weekends, saying shit he had no business saying at work to my co-workers, basicly everything he could do to instigate and give me a black eye with the company. Add in managements refusal to intervene or reprimand in the least, well, i bet that mouthy fuck at least thinks about what he says to people now, and damn sure doesnt see the world the same way, or even half as clearly...