If you're going to go by the book, at least actually go by the book.
1 Dies ARE just describing it better than "I punch it", but 2 Dies are just have to do that and use the environment to your advantage.
By the core rulebook, all you need to do to get a 3 Die stunt is change the environment somehow in the action of punching a dude in the face. Otherwise known as "being a Solar Hero Stylist."
But all of this ignores the most important rule in Exalted: If you don't like how the rules work in a situation, change them. When I'm ST, if my players don't mildly impress either the group or me with their stunt, they're not getting anything above a 1-die.