DAZN, a prominent sports streaming platform, and its North America Chief Executive, Joseph Markowski, have decided to mutually part ways, as confirmed by sources to BoxingScene following initial reports from Sports Business Journal. An official announcement is expected to be made on Monday, according to a spokesperson for DAZN.
Markowski played a pivotal role in DAZN’s foray into the boxing domain, distinguishing the platform from its rivals by offering high-profile boxing matches through subscriptions. The service aimed to revolutionize the industry by moving away from traditional pay-per-view models, as highlighted during Saul “Canelo” Alvarez's DAZN debut in December 2018.
Despite the ambitious vision and significant financial backing from investor Len Blavatnik, DAZN faced challenges in dominating the boxing broadcast landscape, primarily due to contractual obligations of many fighters with other promotions. DAZN later ventured into pay-per-view, broadcasting significant fights including the Alvarez-Gennadiy Golovkin trilogy.
Throughout Markowski's tenure, DAZN hosted several memorable fights, contributing to the sport's rich narrative. However, in recent months, Markowski's public presence has been reduced, with Alfie Sharman emerging as the face of DAZN during fight weeks. Following the departure, DAZN plans to introduce Michael Ridout from IMG in a senior role focusing on rights agreements. Markowski, after a 13-year association with DAZN, has not disclosed his future endeavors.
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