Paul Gallen and Barry Hall trade sledges ahead of their highly anticipated fight
The war of words between Paul Gallen and Barry Hall has continued ahead of their highly anticipated fight, with the pair squaring off in a fiery press conference.
Boxing/MMA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
There were jokes, sledges and two-minute noodles.
And the Barry Hall death stare, which is still as terrifying as ever.
Even at the age of 42 and eight years out of football.
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
His footy opponents have been on the end of it, perhaps the occasional umpire, and now a heckler from the crowd who on Wednesday dared to bring up the most infamous moment of Hall’s AFL career.
The mood was tense at Crown Promenade for the press conference before Friday night’s highly anticipated showdown between NRL great Paul Gallen and Hall at Margaret Court Arena.
SEE BELOW FOR ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HALL V GALLEN
Hall might be “cool, calm and collected” as he claimed, but it didn’t take long for Big, Bad, Bustling Barry Hall to emerge when the bear was poked.
The former Sydney Swans premiership skipper saw red when a member of the audience - who it was later revealed to be a social media prankster - brought up his infamous punch of former Eagle Brent Staker.
In a question to Gallen, the man asked: “As we know, Barry has been involved in one of the infamous king hits in AFL footy. How do you think he’ll go this time when his opponent has the opportunity to fight back?”
Gallen said he was not going to attack Hall for that incident as he knows things can happen in the heat of battle.
Hall then jumped in, with a look that would kill.
“Really good question, thanks for bringing that up,” he said.
A few expletives followed, made under Hall’s breath.
When a journalist remarked that Hall seemed to be worked up, the former AFL forward replied:
“Am I? I’m just replying to some stupid comments and some stupid questions I guess.
“I’m pretty cool, calm and collected, but you’ve got to fight back, don’t you?
“You’re not going to sit back and cop it.”
Hall will also not sit back on Friday night in what is looming as the largest pay-per-view event of the year.
Gallen, a natural showman, was happy to throw barbs.
With promoter Danny Green sitting between the suited up pair, Gallen made a dig at Hall for sparring with cruiserweights in his preparation for the bout.
The former Swan and Bulldog, who holds a commanding 14cm height difference over Gallen, had a sharp reply which even drew a smile out of the Cronulla Sharks star.
“Gal spoke about cruiserweights, but we had to get cruiserweights because there was no one that short,” Hall shot back.
Gallen had more in store, ending the press conference with a present to Hall in the form of a box of two-minute noodles.
“I’ve nicknamed him Barry Noodles, so I’ve got a couple of two-minute noodles here for him actually,” Gallen said.
“You can take them home big fella and give yourself a feed.
“Boxing is fought in three minute rounds and Barry wouldn’t do that, so we’re fighting two-minute rounds and these are cooked in only two minutes.
“So Baz, by the time you finish one round, you can cook your two-minute noodles and have your dinner.”
There were many gags on Wednesday, but what is clear is this fight is no joke.
Both are fit, prepared and Australia will be watching.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HALL v GALLEN
Two of Australia’s most celebrated sportsmen take to the boxing ring on Friday night for a long-awaited cross-code battle.
In one corner - representing the AFL - is Barry Hall. In the other - the embodiment of the NRL - recently retired star PaulGallen.
Here is everything you need to know about the heavyweight showdown.
WHEN IS IT ON?
Friday night. Card starts from 7.30pm (EDT).
WHERE IS IT ON?
Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne. The home of tennis will be transformed into a boxing mecca. A crowd of up to 10,000 isexpected.
NICKNAMES ...
It’s the G Train v Big Bad Baz
HEIGHT ...
Gallen is 180cm. Hall stands at an imposing 194cm
WHO IS PAUL GALLEN?
A warrior on the field, Gallen did it all in rugby league - playing 348 games for the Sharks while winning a drought-breakingpremiership in 2016.
As NSW captain he helped break Queensland’s historic Origin domination, and notched 11 Test for Australia to boot.
His toughness and workrate made him one of the NRL’s leading forwards for the best part of two decades, and have already servedhim well inside the ring.
From nine bouts, Gallen has a perfect 9-0 record - including five knockouts, the latest a brutal smackdown of fellow formerNRL star John Hopoate.
GALLEN FIGHT RECORD ...
19/2/14: Herman Ene Purcell won on TKO at Hordern Pavilion
12/3/14: beat Anthony Watts by TKO at Hordern Pavilion
31/1/15: beat Randall Rayment by unanimous decision at Allphones Arena, Sydney
03/11/15: beat Bodene Thompson by unanimous decision at Sky Convention Centre, Auckland
29/1/16: beat Herman Ene Purcell by TKO at Rumours International, Toowoomba
09/12/16: beat Junior Paulo by unanimous decision at Hordern Pavilion
23/12/16: beat Ryan Carr Ketu by KO at Southern Cross Group Stadium, Woolooware
10/11/17: by Puna Rasaubale by unanimous decision at Cronulla Leagues Club
08/02/19: beat John Hopoate by KO at the Hordern Pavilion
WHO IS BARRY HALL?
An AFL premiership captain with Sydney Swans, 42-year-old Hall earned a reputation as one of the league’s most physical playersduring his 289-game career.
Hall played for St Kilda, Sydney and Western Bulldogs during a career where he was involved in plenty of on-field scraps.
In the most infamous of his incidents, Hall was suspended for seven games after knocking out West Coast’s Brent Staker witha roundhouse punch in 2008.
A remorseful Hall has since apologised for the incident and conceded in 2017 he could have killed Staker.
He dodged suspension for a punch to the stomach of St Kilda defender Matt Maguire in 2005, allowing him to lead the Swansto a nailbiting win over West Coast in the Grand Final.
HALL FIGHT RECORD ...
This is his first fight
HOW TO WATCH THE FIGHT?
The fight is being shown on Main Event pay per view. The card was cost $49.95.
SPORTSBET BETTING ODDS
Head to head
Paul Gallen $1.65
Barry Hall $2.14