Barry Hall has thrown in the towel on his professional boxing career before his first fight.
The ex-AFL star announced in December that he was becoming a fighter, and he was scheduled to fight Sydneysider Ben Wrotniak in May in his first bout. After an impressive career as an amateur, albeit 20 years ago, a lot was expected of Hall.
But the 35-year old has pulled the pin before lacing up his gloves, citing a lack of motivation. Hall says the decision is final, and it is the right call. He is reportedly giving up a half a million dollar payday by not continuing.
I wrote back in December – that Hall’s move to boxing was problematic, that he had left his decision to enter the ring took late and that it would take too long for him to train up, learn and develop into a proper professional fighter.
I wrote that him would need to enlist a world-class trainer to get him ready, and at that time iconic boxing trainer Johnny Lewis was reported as saying that Hall might not have enough fight left in him.
Lewis, the man who guided Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding and Kosta Tszyu, was right once again.
The mountain proved too hard for Hall to climb, and there were just too many obstacles in his way. Credit for him though to walk away before the first fight, not robbing anyone of their money by continuing half-hearted or without total dedication.
Hall looked deep inside himself and realized he didn’t have enough left in him to compete in the ring, arguably the toughest sports arena there is.
There is no shame in that, and while his proposed opponent Wrotniak calls him a “chicken”, Hall at least had the courage to call time before he disappointed himself, fight fans and the wider boxing community.
George Hill
Guest
I like him
George Hill
Guest
I like him You like Him?
George Hill
Guest
Is good man
George Hill
Guest
:)
George Hill
Guest
barry Hall is good boxing
George Hill
Guest
Go barry Hall I like you Good man
Ko'd
Guest
Are ya fair dinkum,what aload of rubbish.Its about Barry Hall and boxing and you go and put something about NFL and punting doubt if you have played a sport,SPORT.
pike64
Guest
my heart wouldn't be in it either if i realised i was not as good as i thought i was. better to not fight in the ring and be remenbered as a 'tough' AFL player than get in the ring and get pummelled and lose your 'tough' reputation. big bad barry probably realised there is not much chance of a king hit in the ring thus eliminating his biggest weapon...
gleeso
Guest
Unlike League players, AFL players do not make good sportsman. Stick with Punting in the NFL.
Australian Rules
Guest
Agreed. The lure of a big payday would have been too much for many 'former'-athletes to ignore. Despite what many critics will no doubt say about him, it takes honesty and courage to walk.
MOnty
Guest
Agreed! All well and good to ko guys on the field who are smaller than you, but put him in with a guy who can legitimately hurt him and it's no thanks !!!!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Credit to him for making the right call than ruining his name and boxings by staging a bunch of spectacle fights against palookas.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
All the best to Barry ... as a Dogs fan I believe he would make a good fwds or backs coach for the club, or any club in that matter.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
It was far, far better for boxing that this happens than they sell a bunch of tickets to a fight that has two tomato cans in a ring. Credit to Barry Hall for not faking it for the money.
stabpass
Guest
And there are rules in boxing as well !, from all accounts, he could have been a good boxer, but rather than take the money and run, he made the right descision if his heart or body, or both were not in it. Its not as though his first opponent was a rampaging Mike Tyson !.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Could see this coming a mile away. In AFL, you can be tough on the field however there are rules, sometimes Barry crossed them however in boxing, he can't hide!