Barry Hall v Paul Gallen: Boxing experts confident ‘Gal’ has Bazza covered with experience key factor

For all of Barry Hall’s natural boxing talent, it won’t be enough against Paul Gallen say experts, with most convinced the latter’s ring experience hands him a significant advantage.

Paul Gallen has worked on his ring craft for more than five years.

Australia’s most decorated boxing trainer in Johnny Lewis has tipped the experience of Paul Gallen to be the vital factor in this Friday night’s ‘Battle of the Codes’.

Lewis, 75, who has seen it all in a career that has involved world champions Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding and Kostya Tszyu, says the Gallen-Barry Hall six-round stoush at Margaret Court Arena has the makings of a classic.

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“I have seen quite a bit of Barry Hall and he can box, which obviously he did as a teenager before heading to the AFL. Boxing is like riding a bike, once you learn you never forget,” Lewis said.

“And Barry has good hand speed and good power, plus getting the fight reduced from three-minute to two minute rounds is a huge win for him.

“But he hasn’t had an actual fight in 25 years, whereas ‘Gal’ has been steadily working on his craft over the last five years. And in the end that should be the telling factor.”

Former world super featherweight champion Will Tomlinson agrees with Lewis’s assessment, saying Hall has set himself a huge task on debut.

Barry Hall sparring in the countdown until Friday’s most anticipated fight.

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“Had Barry Hall taken up boxing when he retired eight years ago at age 34, than I have no doubt he could have become an Australian champion and even a world rated heavyweight,” Tomlinson said.

“But to wait as long as he has and then make his professional boxing debut on a huge stage with the bright lights, national television and thousands of fans, it’s a very big ask. I’m tipping Gallen to stop him in three or four rounds.”

Experts believe Barry Hall might have left his run a fraction too late.

One-time IBF junior lightweight champion Barry Michael completely agrees with Tomlinson: “Barry Hall has played in front of 100,000 in Grand Finals at the MCG, but this is a whole new ball game,” Michael said.

“Because Gallen has remained active as a boxer, he won’t suffer from those same nerves and I see it going his way in three or four rounds, unless Hall can chop him down early.”

The pair will fight on the undercard of a card highlighted by undefeated Andrew Moloney challenging Guyana’s Elton Dharry for the Interim WBA Super Flyweight Championship, while Moloney’s identical twin in Jason takes on highly-rated Nicaraguan bantamweight Dixon Flores.