Would you consider this abuse?

Me and my boyfriend got into an argument yesterday and I brought up how he has physically hurt me. He got angry and said “I’m not an abuser, I never hurt you. Did I punch you? Kick you?” I told him that it is still abuse if it is hurting me and leaving me bruised up. One time during an argument, he knocked over my stuff and started to storm off but I grabbed his arm and he shoved me so hard I fell back onto the floor and when I got up he grabbed my arm so hard and threw me on the floor. The next day my entire right arm was bruised up and down. I had to tell coworkers and family that I must’ve hit it on something but I knew it was him. Previously he has left bruises on my arms from grabbing and throwing me so hard but not as noticeable. His mother knows because I have told her and she defended him saying “you shouldn’t have tried touching him when he is angry. You should just let him leave and you wouldn’t get hurt” she excuses his angry and physical reactions. But i still find myself wondering if maybe I am wrong. Maybe it is my fault those times for making him angry and its my fault for getting too close.