Al Bernstein, a Hall of Famer and part of the Showtime Boxing broadcast team, had to cover his ears when ESPN's Stephen A. Smith tore apart Jeff Horn's record during ESPN's live televised broadcast of the Aussie boxer's fight with Manny Pacquiao from Brisbane, Australia.
Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight world title to orn in a stunning, unanimous points decision in a Sunday afternoon bout billed as the Battle of Brisbane in front of more than 51,000 people. The 11-time world champion entered the fight at Suncorp Stadium as a hot favorite but got more than he bargained for against the 29-year-old former schoolteacher.
Smith, who is best known for his commentary outside of boxing, was clueless as to Horn's record and the opponents he had beaten.
Smith ripped apart opponents like Randall Bailey and Al Funeka, calling them 'no names' of the highest order. Because Smith failed to do his homework on Horn or his opponents, he was unable to grasp that both Bailey and Funeka were former world champions that were featured numerous times in televised fights on HBO, Showtime.
Berstein took to social media to express his disappointment.
"I seldom criticize sportscasting colleagues, BUT I cringe when announcers who don’t really follow boxing denigrate fighters for no reason. Perhaps before Stephen A. Smith said that Horn opponents Randall Bailey and Ali Funeka 'give new meaning to the term no names' he might have done 5 minutes of research and realized that Bailey only 5 years ago was a world champion and as recently as 6 years ago Funeka fought twice for a world title," Bernstein stated.
"Are they household names to all sports or boxing fans … no. Were they aging fighters that Horn could build his name with … yes. But within the sport they are not no names. It is awful to read their names and a few others in a mocking tone and suggest they’re some kind of bums. These two men had excellent careers.
"When asked 'what do you have on Jeff Horn?' Smith said, 'gotta admit don’t have much on this dude.' Really? How could you admit that on National TV when you are paid to cover this 'dude.' Then he denigrated Horn’s opponents without knowing anything about them … When I have covered other sports beyond boxing I make it my business to NOT overreach and make statements on no knowledge. Instead I actually prepare, so that I can stay in my lane, be factual, and do the job I’m being paid for."