On such occasions it's common practice that the referee won't acknowledge that a contestant 'hits' (punches) the opponent until the opponent has become so damaged as to cause the discontinuation of a match, or until the degree of hikite is judged to be inappropriate.
この場合、試合に支障を来たすようなダメージが与えられた場合や引き手の程度により初めて「当てた」と審判にも認知されるのが通例である。