Barry Hall says boxing has gotten him through his struggles as he prepares for a comeback fight

He suffered a humiliating loss to Sonny Bill Williams and battled depression which almost cost him his family. Now AFL great Barry Hall is returning to the ring to fight a former NRL bad boy.

Barry Hall has opened up about his battle with depression as the AFL legend prepares to make a comeback to boxing — the sport that helped him regain his zest for life.

This masthead can reveal Hall’s two-year hiatus from the fight game is over with the Sydney Swans great to return to the ring on a Fox Sports-No Limit show for a heavyweight battle with NRL villain Curtis Scott.

Scott, who retired from the NRL in 2021, is making waves in his new sporting pursuit.

The one-time Storm premiership-winner scored a savage second-round knockout of former NRL star BJ Leilua in March and chalked up his second win with a third-round stoppage of Fijian Nepote Dawadawa in Sydney a fortnight ago.

That prompted the bullish Scott (2-0, 2KO) to call out Hall (0-1-1) — and ‘Big Bad Barry’ is up for the fight.

The crossover boxing showdown will be formally announced Wednesday and Hall is eyeing redemption after a humiliating 115-second loss to Sonny Bill Williams in 2022 that sent him into a dark mental-health spiral.

Barry Hall had a controversial draw with Paul Gallen.

“Curtis has called me out, so I’m up for the challenge,” said Hall, who is set to fight Scott around early-to-mid July.

“I am keen to right the wrongs of what’s happened previously.

“I was thinking of coming back to boxing and Curtis just happened to call me out, so the stars have aligned.

“I thought I lost a lot of credibility in that Sonny Bill fight.

“I was pretty embarrassed to lose in one round and I didn’t want it to end that way.

“Let’s be honest, I’m never going to be a world champion, but I am a lot better boxer than what people have seen so far.

“I’d been back in the gym training on the Gold Coast, so I’ve had these thoughts of coming back to boxing, then Curtis called me out.

“My head is in a good space at the moment.”

Curtis Scott is ready to bash Barry Hall. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Hall can understand if people think he’s mad returning to the ring. He has a fourth child on the way with former Australian television star Lauren Brant. In two pro fights, he lost to Sonny Bill and drew with Paul Gallen. He’s just turned 47. He accepts no boxer beats Father Time.

But the 289-game AFL Hall of Famer — still rippling at 104kg — says boxing has saved him.

“Boxing keeps my head straight. If I didn’t train I would be a mental case,” Hall says with a laugh.

Asked if he battled depression, he says: “Oh, shit yes.

“Starting training again saved things for me. I just found a routine with boxing and sparring and it’s helped me get out of this dark hole I was in.

“I wasn’t formally diagnosed with depression but I struggled with identity crisis after football, which is a form of depression.

“I identified with something for so long (AFL success) and then it was gone.

Barry Hall and wife Lauren Brant with their children Houston, Miller and Samson. Photo: Instagram

“A lot of sportsmen, businessmen, CEOs and owners of big corporate companies ... when that goal and drive goes, people don’t know how to deal with it.

“I did suffer with it.

“Rock bottom was when my relationship and life started to suffer. I wasn’t dealing with things well and I felt like everyone jumped off the wagon and had no real belief in me.

“When that happens, you feel pretty low.

“My relationship with my wife and family suffered. I have three young kids and one on the way, so it wasn’t cool.

“I thought, ‘I have to sort my shit out here and not let this affect my home life and my family’.

“I’ve had my challenges but the thing that digs me out of the hole every time is exercise, boxing and routine.

“If I didn’t have that, I would be even worse.”

Hall’s trainer Fidel Tukel, who also manages Tokyo Olympian Paulo Aokuso, scoffed at suggestions the 47-year-old is a washed-up old man.

Hall says boxing has helped him through his battle with depression.

“Barry is in better shape than most 21-year-olds,” he said.

“If he took up boxing when he was 30, Barry would have been good enough to be a world champion.

“His speed and power is incredible.

“He was the one AFL bloke who scared people and I’m glad he is coming back to boxing - he needs this to fix his mind.”

Hall says he won’t be writing off the 96kg Scott.

“Curtis is certainly no easy fight,” he said.

“He is fit, he is a young bull, he is not scared or worried about who he fights.

“He gave away 25kg to BJ Leilua and beat him. He throws lots of punches and is fairly good.

“I give him total respect, but I’m confident in myself.

“I wouldn’t get back in the ring if I didn’t think I could win.”

Originally published as Barry Hall says boxing has gotten him through his struggles as he prepares for a comeback fight