Boxing promoter Trudnich dies

Friday, March 1, 2002 | 9:22 a.m.

Tony Trudnich made his fortune in the car dealership business in California and Las Vegas in the late 1960s and mid-1970s, then spent 18 years and much of that wealth promoting fights.

Considered an excellent closer of auto deals, Trudnich had the same knack for matchmaking. He would boldly put together three-match cards without standby bouts, confident that the fighters he signed would go the distance with bouts exciting enough to fill early cable television productions.

Trudnich also played the part of the stereotyped Vegas fight game personality to the hilt -- impeccably dressed, dripping with jewelry and flashing a trademark smile and twinkle in his eye.

Tony "Mr. T" Trudnich, who in 1979 began promoting regular monthly cards in Las Vegas has died in Las Vegas. He was 68.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of 30 years and former owner of Cal Vada Volkswagen and BMW are pending.

Trudnich started his Las Vegas Sports Promotions cards at the Sahara (1979-82), moved to the Aladdin (1982-83), then to the Showboat, now the Castaways, (1983-91). His fights were broadcast on SportsChannel and the USA Network.

In 1996 Trudnich returned to the fight game with a card at the Aladdin.

He later promoted regular monthly shows at Arizona Charlie's and The Orleans until 2000.

The fighters who appeared on his cards included former world heavyweight champion Mike Weaver, former middleweight contenders Rocky Mosley Jr. and "Bad News" Wallace, former welterweight contender Kevin Morgan and former lightweight contender Jorge "Kid Dynamite" Morales.

Born Jan. 7, 1934, in San Pedro, Calif., Trudnich served in the Marine Corps. After his service years he became a car salesman and in the late 1960s purchased Glendale (Calif.) Dodge.

Trudnich sold that business and moved to Las Vegas in 1972, where he opened his foreign car dealership on Decatur Boulevard near Sahara Avenue. In 1976 he was elected president of the Southern Nevada New Car and Truck Dealers Association.

A list of survivors was not immediately available.