Barry Hall has been a boxer for less than a week and already he is talking about retirement.
The former AFL hard man, who put fear into opponents during a 289-match career, says he needs to learn the caper very quickly if he is to make a success of his new career.
"I'm 34 now so realistically if you're talking any more than three years you're probably kidding yourself," said the 104-kilogram powerhouse.
"We've got to improve quickly. We've got to make things happen."
Hall started serious training on Monday and described it as a shock to the system.
He says he needs to add weight to his frame so he can pack a bigger punch.
The former St Kilda, Sydney and Western Bulldogs forward says becoming a professional boxer will be the biggest challenge of his sporting career.
He has already got into the ring with Danny Green and copped a few on the chin.
When asked about a possible bout with All Blacks rugby player Sonny Bill Williams, Hall says he had told his management he wants to take on real fighters.
"We can pretty easily make it a celebrity boxing match," Hall said.
"That's what we don't want. I want to fight known fighters, people who've had fights before and I guess earned my respect.
"I'm not here for a money grab. I'm serious about this. It's not going to be a circus."
Hall is a former Victorian amateur junior champion but denies he will quickly establish himself as a top professional fighter.
"I've got a hell of a lot to learn in a short period of time," he said before a training session in Melbourne.
"I'm certainly not thinking I'm going to waltz in here and take over."
Hall says his first fight is a "long way off".
A regular at the AFL Tribunal over his 16-year career, Hall says he no longer has to worry about how a brain fade will affect his team.
"You didn't really want to let your team-mates down with undisciplined acts. I can now not have to worry about that sort of thing," he said.
"It's me in there. There's nowhere to hide."
Australia's best-known boxing trainer, Johnny Lewis, has questioned whether Hall had left his run a little late.
"That's his opinion. I certainly wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't mentally right," Hall said.
AAP
Tags: australian-football-league, sport, boxing, australia First posted December 15, 2011 18:25:06
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