02/25/2025
Photo Credit: Showtime Boxing
He needs no introduction. His voice has narrated some of the most unforgettable moments in boxing history. Whether you grew up watching ESPN’s Top Rank Boxing, Showtime’s biggest events, or now tuning in to DAZN’s Big Time Boxing USA, Al Bernstein has been a constant presence in the sport for decades.
On March 1, Bernstein officially kicks off his 45th year calling fights from ringside. Forty-five years in any profession is remarkable, but Bernstein remains as sharp, insightful, and passionate as ever. He is, quite simply, one of the most respected and revered voices in boxing history.
In a series of exclusive interviews with Brunch Boxing, Bernstein spoke candidly about his legendary career, the state of boxing commentary, his current projects, and what the future holds.
Photo Credit: Showtime Boxing
“It is pretty extraordinary. It’s hard to even imagine,” Bernstein said. “I mean, I started in 1980 during the ESPN Top Rank Boxing series, and time has flown. Here I am, still doing it, still enjoying it, and having a great time.
“So I have the same passion, the same energy. I do the same preparation and enjoy it just as much.”
His love for boxing started early, as he recalled childhood memories of sneaking a transistor radio under his pillow to listen to fights.
“I remember when Ingemar Johansson and Floyd Patterson fought in the late ‘50s. I was like nine years old. I would go to bed with my little transistor radio next to my ear. My parents didn’t know I was up, right? And I was listening to those great fights.
“Then I finally got a chance to sit with my dad, watching the fights, back when the great Don Dunphy was announcing the Friday Night Fights, Gillette Fights. Before my dad passed away when I was only 12, we had a couple of years of watching those fights together, and it was a treasured memory.”
Photo Credit: Showtime Boxing
Bernstein idolized Sugar Ray Robinson, and one of the fights that solidified his passion for boxing was Robinson’s third fight with Gene Fullmer.
“Most observers felt that Ray Robinson had won that fight. I was gutted by the split decision against him, but that kind of cemented me as a boxing fan.”
Before he became one of boxing’s premier broadcasters, Bernstein was a writer and editor. He boxed a little as an amateur in Chicago before turning to journalism.
“I became a newspaper editor and writer in Chicago—really not even writing sports, writing in the hard news. Then I wrote Boxing for Beginners and started writing for Ring Magazine, KO Magazine, and Boxing Illustrated.”
His break in television came in 1980 when he got involved with ESPN’s new Top Rank Boxing series.
Photo Credit: ESPN
“I clawed my way in when they came to Chicago. I didn’t even want any money from them. I just said, ‘I’ll help you guys. I know the Chicago fighters. I know the scene here. I’ll be happy to help you.’
“So I helped behind the scenes, and one time they interviewed me on the air. And while I was there, they needed me to sit in on a fight. I did, they liked what they heard, and they started giving me assignments. Pretty soon, I was doing everything west of the Mississippi. Eventually, Randy Gordon left, and I started doing the whole series.”
In 2003, Bernstein joined Showtime Championship Boxing, where he would remain until the network shut down its boxing operations in 2023.
“Well, the thing that I think was very good about the Showtime shows was that we ran a pretty tight ship. We had contingency plans for contingency plans, and I think the shows were pretty smooth.
“The level of production—I will take this to my grave—I thought the level of production and the way we went about doing the fights, concentrating on the fight, was key. We didn’t do a talk show about boxing. We didn’t speculate on everything under the sun that wasn’t happening in the ring. If there was a story, our production people covered it as well as the announcers.
“That’s the part I’m most proud of.”
Photo Credit: Showtime Boxing
Despite Showtime Boxing’s strong 2023, Bernstein explained why the network ultimately shut down.
“I think it was just… Paramount Plus’s desire not to be in the combat sports zone. I really think that was what it boiled down to. They just didn’t want to do it anymore.”
Bernstein admitted that while there had been rumors, he thought Showtime Boxing had at least another year or two left.
“I was a little surprised that it ended after this past year. I thought there’d be at least one more year, but it was not to be.”
Bernstein’s career has been defined by a commitment to excellence, earning him the Sam Taub Award for excellence in boxing broadcasting in 1988 and induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012.
One of the proudest moments of his career was presenting an award to Don Dunphy, the legendary broadcaster he idolized growing up.
“Don Dunphy was the voice of boxing in the ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s, and early ‘70s. He was a minimalist, which is refreshing in today’s world of wall-to-wall talking. He became a mentor and a friend.
“He told me, ‘You never try to dominate the telecast, and you never try to take away from what people are seeing. You let the athletes be the star.’ That always stuck with me.”
Bernstein has called some of the greatest fights in history, from Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns to the many legendary wars at Showtime.
Now, with Big Time Boxing USA on DAZN, he continues to call the action with the same enthusiasm and expertise. He also keeps a close eye on modern boxing broadcasting.
“For young commentators, the commentating has changed—less used to be more; now more is more. There’s much less dead air, which I think is too bad. I personally think that there should be more space between all the talk on broadcasts.
“The one piece of advice I feel for young broadcasters is: be prepared. Come to ringside with more than just what you see—anecdotes, insights, statistics—because you’re going to need it.
“And be fair. Look at the fight through both fighters’ lenses, not just the more famous one.”
Bernstein has embraced modern technology and social media, even engaging with fans through real-time fight analysis.
“I did live updates—not live, but I would tape them and post them—during the Benavidez-Morrell fight. Fans got a kick out of it.
“Obviously, I come from a different generation, but I’ve embraced social media for years. I’m still on TikTok, trying to up my ante there as well.”
After 45 years in the business, Al Bernstein remains a cornerstone of boxing commentary. His voice has carried generations of fight fans through the sport’s greatest moments, and he shows no signs of stopping.
As long as there are fights to be called, you can count on Al Bernstein being on the mic—calling the action, telling the stories, and elevating the sweet science with every word.
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