Will Barry Hall be a hero or villain to boxing fans?

Hall is only fractionally older than Hoppa was when he started out, and as you said above, appears to have way more potential.

Let's be brutally honest, no Aussie heavyweight has achieved much at World level in 100 years.

If Hall can do better than any Australian born heavyweight has previously (and granted he may acheive absolutely nothing) it'll be a major acheivement for an amateur boxer - turned star footballer - turned 32 year old pro boxer.