Salita Promotions reunites Showtime colleagues for a new era

Saturday night from the Fox Theatre saw a reunion as former broadcast colleagues Paulie Malignaggi, Raul Marquez, and Al Bernstein from the golden age of Showtime Boxing’s run in boxing, called Salita Promotions card.  

In the main women’s middleweight Kaye Scott won the vacant WBA and WBC titles over Olivia Curry via a majority decision. 

On December 16, 2023, David Morrell stopped Sena Agbeko in two rounds. Salita was a part of the final card on Showtime as Agbeko’s promoter. It was also the last televised boxing bout on the industry powerhouse. Now, Salita is bringing on Malignaggi to join Bernstein and Marquez, all of whom served as broadcasters during Showtime’s tenure in boxing. 

“It struck me afterward just how meaningful it is to reunite three voices from a golden era of Showtime boxing,” Salita told BoxingScene. “My focus is always on bringing in the most capable and authentic talent — people who elevate the sport and respect the fighters.”

Showtime Championship Boxing and ShoBox: The New Generation were two of the most beloved telecasts, but what made them so good? 

BoxingScene spoke with Gordon Hall, who was executive producer of ShoBox, as well as senior vice president of Showtime Sports, who offered insight to each broadcaster. 

“A lot of the differences in what makes one broadcast better than the others is the talent, and that the talent doesn’t try to be any bigger than the fights and the fighters,” Hall said. 

Salita takes pride in his promotion, following in the footsteps of past legends. He is quick to remind people that he co-promoted the last card on HBO Boxing and Showtime Championship boxing, as well as citing the narratives and pre-fight build-up from these networks that got him enthusiastic to become a professional boxer. 

“The stories of fighters and of this sport deserve to be told with experience, respect, and insight,” Salita said. “That’s how fans connect — through narratives that honor the journey, not just the result.”

“Matchmaking, storytelling, and promotion outside the ring are the ingredients to building a champion,” Salita said. “That’s why authenticity matters — Paulie and Raul lived it as world champions. You can’t get more genuine than to bleed for the sport.”

All three broadcasters have been a part of iconic calls.

Bernstein has seen longevity in the sport of boxing. He has broadcast fights dating back to the 1980s and has been a staple of Salita’s Big Time Boxing USA. 

“To me, Al is a fighter’s broadcaster,” Hall said. “He will never speak too much. He will only speak when needed.”

In October, Bernstein spoke with BoxingScene about the approach he takes when broadcasting fights.  

“We believe the most important thing is the fight in front of us,” Bernstein said. “Our mission is to concentrate on the fight in front of us, the fighters in front of us, and hope the fans enjoy it. I am there to enhance the experience. I am not there to take it over. I am not there to call attention to me.”

Malignaggi, the former two-time titleholder, will be working with Bernstein for the first time since the Showtime days. 

“We saw Paulie fight on ShoBox, then he became a world champion, and then a Showtime announcer,” Hall said. “Paulie was a true student of the game. He tells it like it is.”

Malignaggi explained what he looks for from fighters on this type of card. 

“I am looking for hunger and determination,” Malignaggi added. “When you are fighting on a card like this, the money is not the be-all end-all, because it is not going to be life-changing money. However, the ability to impress on a card like this can be life-changing; it may get you an opportunity at a bigger and higher level. 

“It is not just the win, but how are you going to win. The ability to impress with skills.”

Then, there is Marquez, a former U.S. Olympian and titleholder. Marquez and Malignaggi had contrasting styles in the ring. Marquez was a calculated pressure fighter who attacked the body. Malignaggi was one of the toughest fighters of his era, and showed a brilliant fight IQ with an excellent jab.

“I have my ways, and Paulie has his ways,” Marquez said. “Sometimes we might agree to disagree, or we agree, but it makes the telecast better.”

Marquez has served as a bilingual broadcaster doing telecasts in both English and Spanish. Marquez is also an active trainer working with his son,  Giovanni Marquez.

“I bring the fighter out of them,” Marquez said of the fighter meeting conversations. “I just get it. I know how to bring it out of them, and I am there because I care. I want to do a good job.”

Marquez offered some words for those who might tune in which was conducted before the fight. “If anyone wants to learn boxing, they need to watch the fights on Saturday.”

Salita is optimistic that the cards he is putting together can help others feel the passion and love for the sport that he has experienced. 

“We’re not trying to recreate the past — we’re building on it,” Salita said. “The lessons and standards set by Showtime and HBO proved what boxing broadcasts can be. Our goal now is to evolve that formula and bring fans into a new era with the same integrity and respect for the sport.”

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.