'Stay clear': Paul Gallen disregards warning about fighting Barry Hall
Cronulla Sharks legend Paul Gallen has AFL great Barry Hall firmly in his sights.
All eyes will be on the two former champions of their respective sports when they lock horns in a boxing contest at Margaret Court Arena on November 15.
Aussie boxing great Danny Green has been a chief organiser for the bout that pits together two men with hard-hitting reputations in the footy world.
The bout marks Hall's first professional fight since retiring from the AFL in 2011.
The big forward enjoyed a glittering career that saw him play for St Kilda, Western Bulldogs and the Sydney Swans - where he captained the side to its 2005 premiership triumph.
Gallen has more recent experience in the ring after making his boxing debut in 2014, while still playing in the NRL with the Sharks.
The former representative forward - who retired at the end of this season after playing 349 games for Cronulla - scored a second-round KO against former NRL bad boy John Hopoate in his last fight in February.
Gallen says despite being warned against stepping into the ring to square off against Hall, he holds no fears.
“I’m really looking forward to this challenge against an AFL legend,” Gallen said.
“When I first started boxing I was warned by some Australian boxing royalty to stay clear of Barry and also some mutual people we know who he’d played AFL with.
“When his name was mentioned over the past couple of years I saw it as a challenge and said ‘yes’ with it never eventuating.
“I guess now we’ll get to see how good a judge those who backed him are.”
Gallen - who captained Cronulla to its historic 2016 NRL premiership - insists he has the skills to go toe-to-toe with Hall and won't be talking a backward step once he enters the ring with the retired AFL star.
“I’m getting in there and I’m going to beat him. I’m not going to let him just stand there and punch me. It’s a fight, and as Greeny said at the start, I’m here to win. I’ll be training to win.
“Come November 15, I’ll be getting in that ring ready.”
Gallen's task won't be an easy one against Hall - a man who has a background in boxing.
A renowned hard man during his AFL playing days, Hall won a state title in his junior years after competing in more than a dozen fights before the age of 15.
The AFL great says he will take plenty of motivation in proving critics wrong - particularly those from the rugby league world.
“While living in Sydney and Queensland for 10 years, a common comment I heard from NRL fans is that AFL was ‘soft’... well now I guess we’re all about to find out!,” Hall said.