A week ago Corey Alan Schumann, a 21-year-old with what a magistrate called a "serious violent history", was full of hope for a new job and a new start in Brisbane.

Instead, he's behind bars and the family and friends of the man he's accused of coward punching outside a Fortitude Valley cab rank is calling for the government to act on late-night violence.

Bailey Merz was rushed to hospital shortly after 2am on Thursday morning after his alleged beating at the hands of Mr Schumann and an associate while trying to break up a fight.

Confronting CCTV vision of the attack allegedly showed the apprentice carpenter take the younger man in a headlock while the other man rained down seven blows upon his skull and upper body.