In 1924, Bernstein fought Sammy Mandell and Rocky Kansas to draws. Mandell would hold the Lightweight World Championship from July 3, 1926 – July 17, 1930. After first drawing with Mandell in the Garden on January 11, 1924 in fifteen rounds, he lost to Mandell on May 16, 1924 in Louisville and on November 27, 1924 at Madison Square Garden. He drew with Kansas on February 18, 1924 in Buffalo, previously having beaten him on October 23, 1923 in the Garden. Kansas would later hold the Jr. Lightweight title for the first half of 1926.