Big question hanging over Barry Hall on eve of boxing debut

There was a good reason Barry Hall chose the AFL over boxing — and 25 years on from that decision it’s worth asking what’s changed?

There is much intrigue going into Friday’s Code War between Paul Gallen and Barry Hall, primarily because of the questions the boxing showdown will answer.

Who is the better man? What is the tougher sport — AFL or NRL?

But for Barry Hall, the biggest question remains why he is even there at all.

In his 2011 autobiography, aptly titled Pulling No Punches, Hall describes realising when boxing in his youth, that his heart just wasn’t in the sport.

“In all honesty, I often wonder what might have been had I stuck with boxing and not gone back into football,” Hall writes. “But in all honesty, I didn’t really want to be a boxer.”

Barry Hall trains as a kid.

Hall again flirted with boxing in the 2009 AFL pre-season, the summer after he had violently struck West Coast opponent Brent Staker and was beginning to lose faith with Swans coach Paul Roos.

Ironically, it was the promoter of the Hall-Gallen showdown, Danny Green, who was looking to tempt Hall back into the ring.

Hall trained in Sydney and Perth with Green — who at the time was eyeing his own return to the ring after a 12-month retirement.

Barry Hall sparring with Danny Green in Marrickville, Sydney, in 2009.

Hall, 32, was presented with a promotional contract by Green’s team, but again said no, stating once more “his heart wasn’t in it”.

So, the question needs to be asked, what has changed in 2019? What has motivated the return to jump “straight off the couch”, as Hall described at Wednesday’s press conference, and in to a dangerous fight against Gallen at age 42?

Sadly, in boxing, there’s only one way to find if you have the heart, and you find out pretty quickly.

Sure, Hall has been in a boxing ring before. There is much said about Hall’s amateur career as a teenager, where he was a Victorian champion. But the truth is he claimed his title in the 52kg division, as a 15-year-old. He’s said himself “there wasn’t much power punching going on” in his amateur days.

Barry Hall was trained by his father, Ray.

Ray and Barry Hall in 1997.

That will change on Friday night against Gallen, as hitting hard is really all the former rugby league international knows.

Amateur boxing is a sprint and fitness is key. It focuses on the more technical aspects of the sport — defence over attack, finesse over pure power.

The professional ranks are very different, and Hall will soon learn why.

Gallen’s 9-0 record isn’t anything to write home about. His resume contains wins over four former rugby league players — Anthony Watts, Junior Paulo, Bodene Thompson and John Hopoate — and three against debutants.

But Gallen can only beat what’s put in front of him and the biggest advantage for the ex-New South Wales captain is the hard rounds he has in the bank. Rounds under your belt and experience under pressure are crucial.

Barry Hall and Paul Gallen are seen during a press conference on Wednesday. (AAP Image/Vince Caligiuri)

Gallen is a rugged heavyweight. His short stature sees him constantly moving forward, fighting on the inside, trying to close the range his opponents attempt to maintain.

The AFL premiership winner has the height and reach advantage, but the longer the fight goes, the more it plays into the hands of Gallen.

Hall has shown his heart on the football field countless times, but the boxing ring is another world.

Does Barry Hall have what it takes to be a fighter? Only he knows the answer for now but on Friday night we will all find out.

Code War: Hall vs Gallen

Friday, November 15 from 7pm (AEDT)

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