Barry Hall puts hand up for $2 million Sonny Bill Williams blockbuster

AFL legend Barry Hall says he would be open to stealing Paul Gallen’s $2 million payday and fight former All Black Sonny Bill Williams.

Barry Hall means business.

AFL legend Barry Hall says he would be happy to steal Paul Gallen’s $2 million payday and fight former All Blacks superstar Sonny Bill Williams.

Speaking ahead of his highly anticipated Code War showdown with Gallen at Margaret Court Arena on Friday, Hall made it clear his focus is entirely on upsetting the former Cronulla Sharks legend in his professional boxing debut — but admits he’d be open to a blockbuster fight with Williams if he can end Gallen’s undefeated streak.

It follows reports on Sunday that Gallen and Williams have agreed that the reported $4 million purse on offer is now too good for either of them to refuse.

The Sunday Telegraph reported both Gallen and Williams would earn $2 million each when they finally step into the ring together.

The report claims Williams has a clause in his reported $10 million Super League contract with the Toronto Wolfpack which will allow him to fight Gallen in October next year.

However, the fight is conditional on Gallen continuing his 9-0 undefeated streak.

A loss to Hall will likely see Gallen’s $2 million payday turn to dust.

The 42-year-old says he would get no satisfaction in costing Gallen the biggest payday of his life — but is happy to replace Gallen in the ring against Williams if he is able to cause a massive upset in their Friday night Code War.

The former Sydney Swans premiership captain says he would be up to fighting SBW — if the opportunity was worthwhile enough for him and his family.

“It’s just got to be viable and worthwhile. I’m not even sure if it’s real or not. If it’s worth sacrificing two or three months of your life to do it, then of course, anyone would do it,” Hall said.

“I’ll fight anyone. It doesn’t bother me too much. I’m certainly not going to look past Friday night, though.”

Code War: Barry Hall and Paul Gallen.

He said he has met Williams several times and respects what the Kiwi has done in the ring.

“Anyone who jumps in the ring and puts it on the line has got my respect,” Hall said.

“He’s done that. He’s one of the best athletes in the world and seems to be the sort of guy that could turn his hand to anything. He could play table tennis if he wanted to. He’s a nice fella too.”

Hall says he has not ruled out further fighting opportunities beyond his fight with Gallen — but says his boxing future all depends on Friday’s fight.

Hall, meanwhile, has clipped Gallen and his camp for looking forward to the potential Williams fight without giving him the proper respect.

“I’m not going to look past anyone because I’ve got a pretty big challenge in front of me,” he said.

“It’s good that they are.”

Hall has also defended his camp’s decision to demand the fight be staged across six two-minute rounds — saying it was the easiest way to level the playing field.

Hall hasn’t fought for more than 20 years and — despite remaining in fit condition — says he is coming “off the couch”.

Having just seven weeks notice to prepare for the fight, Hall says the shorter two-minute rounds are simply fair.

Gallen, 38, has also had two professional fights in the past two years.

Hall suggested he would have been prepared to fight three-minute rounds — if he’d been given more time to prepare for the fight.

“It’s a fight where we’ve had seven weeks notice, but I’m coming off the couch,” Hall said.

“The last time I did professional sport was seven years ago. Even seven weeks is pretty limited time to get ready for a fight. We thought six two minute rounds would be realistic and something that lets me make a good account of myself. If we’d had a little bit longer, we could have negotiated the time of the rounds.”

SBW will reportedly fight next October.

Hall said his training camp with Danny Green’s former trainer Angelo Hyder has gone “better than we could have hoped”.

His boxing re-education has also been such a spectacular success that Hall says the main consideration for any future fights would be the impact it has on his family — not his 42-year-old frame.

“I’m not feeling my age. There’s been no injuries. I haven’t missed any sessions, I haven’t pulled back on any sessions. It’s gone better than we could have hoped,” Hall said.

“I thought I was going to be sore everyday and a battle mentally.

“I’m not sure if it’s muscle memory, but I’ve just adapted so good to it. The improvement has been out of sight. The punching power, the fitness base, all of it. We’ve been punching out six rounds quite comfortably. Everything has sort of fallen into place and I didn’t think it would be this smooth.

“It’s my pro debut, if I do pull this win off it’s a pretty big deal. Not many people would take this fight for their first fight.

“I’m quite confident I can win. I know I can win. If I can conquer this, it’s going to be a big deal.”

Code War: Hall vs Gallen

Friday, November 15 from 7pm (AEDT)

Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne

To order the fight through Foxtel’s Main Event channel 521, visit mainevent.com.au