Walter Weiss

Walter Weiss (1935- 2020) is a former boxer and casino professional in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Weiss lived in Boston, Massachusets, then known as Beantown and the center of the boxing mania of the time. Where he went through school and then started his boxing career at 16 years old in New York City in 1953 where he trained professionally. And did spare at the famous Stillmans’ gym where some of the great names of the era, Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey worked out. He went to Israel to box in the Israel Olympics. Shortly after that, he went back to Boston and then moved on to a new career in las vegas, with a local bookmaker, Elliott Price. He learned the bookmaker business well and made more friends here in las vegas. This began Weiss’s diverse employment history in the gambling/ casino industry. He worked various positions such as a floor man, bar boy, and blackjack dealers at casinos like the Thunderbird, Sands, Desert Inn, Golden Gate, and Riviera, and El Cortez.

From 1967-73 he worked as a broker in New York and then moved back to las vegas to try awhile at his old jobs. And then got involved in the development of a strip bar and casino on boulder highway. In the recession of 2008, he lost it, and retired from that and became more religious.

He last met with Professional boxer Mike Tyson and got a book signed by him in 2017. And shared that story and old times with his brother a professional referee, in 2017, just before his untimely death.

Over the years, especially when he was employed at the large casino like Hotel El Cortez, he would entertain boxer and other professional athletes, when they were in town. He was an employee there for a long time and later a personal friend of the owner. He worked as a dealer and a pit boss, and other gambling positions. And while charming the women in town, who were here for a while in their careers, he always found it easy to fall out of love las vegas style.

Finally, he found another Las Vegan who suited his needs and married her in the Wedding chappel in 2017. Her name was Wenling (Rachel) Li. He would carry on again going to casinos and spa and night clubs like he was 50 again. Time ran out as it does for all, just when the coronavirus came to town.

A tree in his honor was planted in Israel by JNF. Jewish National Fund

And a plaque put up on the memorial board at Or Bamidbar Chabad Sephardic synagogue, 2991 Emerson, Las Vegas, Nv where he was a member for over 30 years.

He was honored on the Boxing Hall of Fame, as was his brother, a referee in the boxing business for years.

He chose to ship his body back to Boston to be buried with his family in their gravesite. He was given the last rights here in Las Vegas, and in Boston. And had led a full life here in sin city.