Jay Z's agency hires respected boxing executive

Author:
SI Wire
Publish date:
Aug 18, 2014

The sports agency co-founded by Jay Z has hired David Itskowitch, a respected boxing executive and promoter with nearly two decades of experience, to be the chief operating officer of its boxing division, according to ESPN.

The move signals Roc Nation Sports' intentions to promote boxers and fights.

"There's no question the sport of boxing needs a new player, someone who can do something different," Michael Yormark, the president and chief of branding and strategy for parent company Roc Nation, told ESPN.com on Sunday night. "We're energized, and we're going to make a difference. This is a huge priority to us. This is a highly serious business to us."

Itskowitch, 39, was the COO of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions for more than five years. He also worked under HBO Sports senior vice president Lou DiBella.

"We're going to promote our first event by the end of the year, and we're currently strategizing on which fighters we will seek to sign," Itskowitch told ESPN.com.
"We're looking to make an immediate and dramatic impact on the sport. We feel we can do that, and we plan to build Roc Nation Sports into a boxing brand by leveraging Roc Nation's current marketing, public relations and branding infrastructure. We're going to brand Roc Nation Sports fighters, and we're confident that branding will lead to financial opportunities both in and out of the ring that will be available nowhere else."

Roc Nation Sports' list of clients includes Victor Cruz of the New York Giants, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, C.C. Sabathia of the New York Yankees and Robinson Cano of the Seattle Mariners.

GALLERY: JAY-Z's ROC NATION ATHLETES

Jay-Z's Roc Nation Athletes

Robinson Cano

Johnny Nunez/WireImage; Ted S. Warren/AP

Jay-Z's Roc Nation announced itself to the world in early April 2013 when it signed then-Yankees second baseman and five-time All-Star Robinson Cano away from Scott Boras. Cano, who had spent nine years in the Bronx, signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners.

Victor Cruz

Johnny Nunez/WireImage; Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

In April 2013, Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz signed on with Roc Nation. Cruz signed a five-year, $43 million extension with New York that summer, which will keep the Giants' best receiver close to Jay-Z's hometown for his NFL prime.

Skylar Diggins

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images; Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images

In late April 2013, former Notre Dame college basketball star Skylar Diggins signed with Roc Nation. Diggins, who was selected No. 3 in the WNBA draft by the Tulsa Shock, became the agency's third client, after Cano and Cruz. Diggins was a four-time All-American at Notre Dame; in her second season in Tulsa, the guard averaged 20.1 points per game.

Geno Smith

Johnny Nunez/WireImage; Carlos M. Saavedra/SI

Roc Nation scooped up Jets quarterback Geno Smith before the former West Virginia college star had even played a single down in the NFL. Smith signed with Roc Nation in May 2013, a move that generated controversy because Jay-Z was not officially credentialed as an agent. On his track "La Familia" from his recent record "Magna Carta Holy Grail," Jay-Z poked fun at the situation: "NFL investigations / Oh, don't make me laugh."

Kevin Durant

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage; Greg Nelson/SI

Kevin Durant has established himself as one of the best players in the NBA. Durant signed with Roc Nation in June 2013 and immediately became the most high-profile coup for the agency. Unless he signs an extension with the Thunder, Durant will hit free agency in 2016.

C.C. Sabathia

Anthony J. Causi/Icon SMI; Porter Binks/SI

C.C. Sabathia joined former teammate Robinson Cano in Roc Nation's emerging client base in Jan. 2014. Sabathia was signed through 2016 at salaries of $23 million in each of the next two seasons and $25 million in 2016. The Yankees hold a $25 million option for 2017 with a $5 million buyout.

Hakeem Nicks

Jeff Schear/Getty Images; John W. McDonough/SI

Hakeem Nicks joined Roc Nation in Feb. 2014, after becoming a free agent for the first time in his career. He spent five seasons with the New York Giants, where he quickly became an integral part of the team's offense. Following a down season in 2013 for Nicks, who failed to grab a touchdown from a struggling Eli Manning, the Indianapolis Colts signed the wide receiver to a one-year, $3.975 million contract with a $2 million signing bonus in March 2014.

James Young

Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images

Former Kentucky and current Boston Celtics basketball player James Young was spotted sitting next to Rihanna during a Brooklyn Nets game at the Barclays Center in May 2014. She later broke the news Young signed with Roc Nation on her Instagram, "“I am proud to say that JAMES YOUNG is the newest member of the #ROCNationSports family!!! WELCOME HOME!!!"

Rusney Castillo

The Cuban defector signed with Roc Nation in June 2014, and two months later the Boston Red Sox agreed to a seven-year, $72.5 million deal with the outfielder

Ndamukong Suh

Michael N. Todaro/FilmMagic; Al Tielemans/SI

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh signed with Roc Nation in Sept. 2014. Suh is in the final year of his rookie contract with the Lions. His base salary of $12.55 million and bonuses are scheduled to count $22.4 million against the team's salary cap next season.

Yoenis Cespedes

Winslow Townson/AP; Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Roc Nation added their second Cuban outfielder with the Boston Red Sox in Oct. 2014. Yoenis Cespedes will be a free agent after the 2015 season and is expected to land a lucrative contract.

Dez Bryant

Johnny Nunez/WireImage; John W. McDonough/SI

Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant joined Roc Nation Sports in Nov. 2014 while in the last season of his rookie contract and being paid $1.78 million in base salary. When asked about his decision to change agents, Bryant reportedly said "It ain't about a contract. It's about me branding myself and being an icon for these kids."

Andre Ward

Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire; Reed Saxon/AP

Jay-Z signed WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward to Roc Nation Sports in Jan. 2015. It has been 14 months since Ward wiped out Edwin Rodriguez, his last fight before a protracted battle with former promoter Dan Goossen put him on the shelf. That squabble ended with a settlement, freeing Ward (27-0) to ink a lucrative contract with Roc Nation within a week later.

Todd Gurley

Georgia running back Todd Gurley signed with Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports in Jan. 2015. Gurley, 20, tore the ACL in his left knee in November against Auburn and missed the rest of the season. It was his first game back since serving a four-game suspension for accepting money for autographs. Gurley, who will enter the 2015 NFL draft, rushed for 911 yards and nine touchdowns while also catching 16 passes for 117 yards in six games in 2014.

- Chris Johnson