BARRY Hall has pulled the plug on his boxing career before it even started.
The former Western Bulldogs forward retired last season and announced his foray into the fight game.
He was slated to face heavyweight Ben Wrotniak in his first bout at Hisense Arena in May, but that contest is now cancelled.
”It’s a decision that I haven’t taken lightly,” Hall told AFL 360 on the Fox Footy Channel tonight.
”I think the decision, it’s certainly final, and it’s the right one for me.”
Hall has turned his back on a potential windfall of $500,000.
The 35-year-old is also out of pocket training costs to payments to promoters.
A combination of factors led to Hall pulling out, including the physical and mental strain of training day in and day out, and a niggling ankle injury.
”I said at the start of all this that if I’m not 100% and I don’t do it properly, I won’t do it,” Hall said.
”I’m at that situation now, mentally and physically.
”I don’t want to rob the people coming to watch. If I’m not 100% on anything, I don’t want to do it.”
Hall said he ”went to the well” too many times over his 16-year football career and is ready for life after professional sport.
