AFL legend Barry Hall is ready to make a comeback to Australian heavyweight boxing, and has challenged either Paul Gallen or Sonny Bill Williams to take a hyped footy fight with him “tomorrow”.
On a night where Sydneysider Anton Markovic may have punched his way into a headliner against breakout Australian star Nikita Tszyu, Hall also announced he wants to make his own surprise fight against two of the sport’s biggest crossover stars.
While it has now been two years since he was kayoed by SBW, Hall confirmed he is keen to throw down again while attending Wednesday night’s No Limit on Fox event in Sydney – cornering Queensland heavyweight Troy Pilcher in the opening fight of the night.
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Speaking with Fox Sports Australia afterwards, the 47-year-old revealed he has been sparring Pilcher as part of what he hopes to be a return to the ring, and potentially on a No Limit card, in 2024.
Hall said he was keen to fight either Williams or NSW Origin great Gallen, the latter of whom he boxed to a controversial draw in 2019.
The surprise declaration came on a night where Youssef Dib scored a strong stoppage win, rival Nort Beauchamp retired, and Markovic potentially punched his way into a headliner against the younger Tszyu sibling — upsetting New Zealand prospect Viliami Liavaa with a second round stoppage, which came via brutal body shot.
Asked if he now wanted the Tszyu shot, he said: “If he’s up for it, I’d welcome that opportunity 100 per cent”.
Only minutes earlier, during a break in proceedings, Hall had revealed he is now again sparring “regularly” in Burleigh with well-known trainer Fidel Tukel and “starting to get the feel for things again”.
“The way my last fight went, that’s not how I want to finish,” Hall said of being stopped by Williams within a round.
“I thought I was fairly unlucky with some circumstances there and I’d like to rectify that.
“I’d love a rematch with Sonny Bill.
“I probably won’t get it because ‘why would they?’. I get that.
“But I would like the fight. And obviously Paul Gallen is the other one.
“There is unfinished business there.
“We had that draw but he knows I won. And I know I won.
“I won that fight four rounds to two, and most people who know boxing would agree.
“But it didn’t go that way.
“Afterwards too, I wanted the rematch but it didn’t happen.
“Paul obviously had the Mark Hunt match which would’ve been more money.
“So I get it.
“And I know he’s retired and I probably should be too.
“But that’s a story that needs to be finished.
“So we will see what happens. I’m happy to fight anyone within reason.”
Asked if any official talks had taken place, Hall continued: “Nothing serious.
“But I have thrown the line out there
“I’ve got the itch again.
“So if anyone wants to give me some notice, I’m available.”
Fighting on the first fight of the night, Pilcher won his fight taken on a tick over 24 hours notice and just three weeks after having his right eardrum busted by Tevita Pangai Jnr.
Pilcher was catapulted onto the first No Limit card of 2024 – and the official start of a huge month for Australian boxing – following the cancellation of the proposed headliner between Bilal Akkawy and Renold Quinlan.
That drama had started early on Tuesday, when Quinlan weighed in almost 5kg heavy for the proposed bout at an 86kh catch weight.
The big miss caused a huge drama between both camps, who had to be separated at the weigh-ins, before the bout was eventually canned.
Despite the drama, Quinlan then agreed to fight at heavyweight (and entered the ring at 97kg) against Pilcher, who was coming into the fight having won seven of his nine fights via KO.
Asked about taking the fight on such crazy short notice, the Queensland Health worker laughed: “Three weeks ago I was sparring Tevita Pangai Jnr and he got me with one of his good left hooks.
“Blew the ear drum.
“So I’ve been out three weeks but we decided to take the fight anyway.
“They (No Limit) may have called a few other people too but we said ‘yes’ quickly, it was 15 or 20 minutes.
“(Laughs) And my bosses were gracious enough to give me some time off.”
Pilcher wins decision on a days notice | 00:49
So as for if his ear was now good?
“I’ll find out tomorrow morning,” he grinned.
“No idea.
“But it feels alright.”
And as for his thoughts on Pangai Jnr?
“He’s an athlete, ey,” Pilcher said.
“And he’s in the gym every day, putting the work in.
“He’s got a good coach up in Logan and he’s getting a lot of good work done.”
Asked his thoughts on the drama that had gifted him the surprise No Limit on Fox fight, he continued: “I don’t really follow the boxing scene.
“I just go to training and get the job done when it needs to get done.
“Obviously it popped up on my feed but I didn’t really pay too much attention to the drama.
“But then they called my coach … and when these opportunities come up you have to take them. You’d be stupid not to.
“But I do feel really bad for Akkawy because I know how much time and effort goes into a camp.
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears. You’re putting your body on the line every day.
“So I hope they can get him another fight soon because this should’ve been his fight today.”
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