Legendary trainer Johnny Lewis hopes Barry Hall doesn't return to boxing for the wrong reasons and become a sideshow act.

Hall, a former amateur boxer, announced on Tuesday he would quit playing in the AFL after the 2011 season and, at 34, he would consider a new career in boxing.

But Lewis says Hall might have left things too late.

"When the Swans won the grand final in 2005, even then or the year after, that might have been the right time to go into the fight business," Lewis told AAP on Tuesday.

"If he does go into it now, he's still going to have plenty of arsenal there.

"He will achieve but, at 34 or 35, it's getting a little bit late to be hoping to get into the real big time of boxing."

However Lewis said the 104-kilogram Hall had the weapons to have an impact in the sport.

"The world heavyweights are at an all-time low. There's nothing there at all," Lewis said.

"(Ex-rugby league international) John Hopoate was Australian champion. Barry, years ago, would have had the likes of John Hopoate and Bob Mirovic. I'm sure he would have had them covered.

"You've got to understand that Barry was taught by his dad as a young man and fought.

"He had the basic training and went on from there. He likes the sport and will no doubt contemplate having a lash at it.

"Does he want to do it as a way to get to the top, or does he want to do it just because he has always wanted to do it?"

Hall's temper led to several fiery incidents during his AFL career, including a seven-game ban for striking in 2008.

"The discipline is paramount. Once a fighter loses his block, he becomes vulnerable, no matter how good he is," Lewis warned.

"You've got to control your temper. You can't show frustration or intimidation or anything like that.

"I'd hate to think that they're going to use him as some sort of a sideshow act. I don't think Barry needs that."

Hall admitted boxing would take a massive commitment.

"I'm not going to rule it out. But, in saying that, I've trained pretty hard for 16 years and my body needs a bit of a rest," Hall said.

"I'm going to have to train just as hard, if not harder, for a boxing career. Whether I'm prepared to do that or not is another thing."

Danny Green's trainer Angelo Hyder said it would be fantastic if Hall returned to boxing.

"He could make a lot of money and he would get a lot of people watching on TV," Hyder said.

"Don't forget ... he was a state junior champion in Victoria."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP