The former AFL hard man, who put fear into opponents during a 289-game career, says he needs to learn the caper very quickly if he’s 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 104kg 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 said becoming a professional boxer would 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 said 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 denied he would quickly establish himself as a top pro fighter.

“I’ve got a hell of a lot to learn in a short period of time,” he said before a training session at FightFit Boxing Centre in South Melbourne.

“I’m certainly not thinking I’m going to waltz in here and take over.”

He said his first fight was a “long way off”.

A regular at the AFL Tribunal over his 16-year career, Hall said he no longer had to worry about how a brain fade would 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.