David Itskowitch is the face of Roc Nation Sports when it comes to its boxing brand. He is the Chief Operating Officer and his most recent job before that was in the same capacity at Golden Boy Promotions. So it should come to no surprise that Itskowitch got Andre Ward out of his contract with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Roc Nation Sports’ first major signing.
However, what he pulled last week in signing Miguel Cotto was something that sent shockwaves through the boxing world. The alliance as he calls it was something he feels both sides will benefit from.
“We’re thrilled to be in this alliance with Miguel Cotto and his company Miguel Cotto Promotions,” Itskowitch told ThaBoxingVoice.com “It was a long process, and it wasn’t easy. Obviously there are certain benefits we can provide to Miguel both inside and outside the ring. We’re valuable and are valuable to him. We’re thrilled that a fighter of his cache, a champion of his caliber has put in his faith and his character in us.”
With Al Haymon seemingly blocking a lot of Roc Nation Sports’ moves from a possible Quillin-Korobov fight to possible Keith Thurman and Deontay Wilder signings, Itskowitch was asked how this move figured into competing with such moves from before.
He took the high road saying, “We were just happy that Miguel was a free agent, and a deal was there to be made. It doesn’t matter who else is out there; this deal is about Miguel Cotto, Roc Nation Sports, and Miguel Cotto Promotions.”
With a move like this Roc Nation, Sports has made a statement, and that statement is that they are not going anywhere despite some setbacks starting off their entry into the boxing world.
“If you look at what we’ve done as our latest move, that’s an indication of the way we’re going in. All business have their setbacks and steps but as long as you keep charging forward and pushing forward. We’ve proven we’re going to do that and keep doing that and today’s announcement is evident of that.
