3 minute read

Former AFL bad boy Barry Hall and retired NRL heavyweight Paul Gallen are set to fight in Melbourne in a cross-code clash.

The biggest ever cross-code fight is on with former AFL player Barry Hall set to take on NRL heavyweight Paul Gallen in Melbourne next month.

The bad boys of their codes will square off in a long-awaited stoush, with details to be announced at a press conference on Wednesday morning.

Boxing champion Danny Green has been working behind the scenes to put the fight together.

The fight will be the first for Hall, 42, who retired from the AFL at the end of 2011 after playing with St Kilda, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs.

Gallen has fought regularly since making his ring debut in 2014.

Calling time on his 349-game Cronulla NRL career at the end of the season, the 38-year-old had nine fights since 2014 for nine victories - five by KO.

His last win was a second-round KO of John Hopoate in Sydney in February.

Hall has a background in boxing, contesting 15 fights by the age of 15 including winning a state title.

During his eight seasons at Sydney he earned a reputation as a controversial player and in 2008 was suspended for seven weeks for knocking out West Coast Eagles defender Brent Staker with a vicious blow to the head.

Rising Australian stars, identical twins Andrew and Jason Moloney, will both fight on the undercard.