What's the difference between a battery and a fight ticket

Because it's against the law. Here is the text of the statute, partially highlighted by me:   (a) A person commits battery if he or she knowingly without legal justification by any means (1) causes bodily harm to an individual or (2) makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with an individual.   "By any means" means exactly that.  If I throw a rock at someone's face, that's just as much against the law as my punching that person in the face.  Or butt. It makes no difference. It's no defense to say "I never touched him, the rock I threw did."