Mills Lane, the Hall of Fame boxing referee who was the third man in the ring when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear, died on Tuesday. He was 85.
Lane had a stroke in 2002 and his son, Tommy, said his father had taken a significant turn for the worse before entering hospice care on Friday. He died at his home in Reno, Nevada, with his wife, Kaye, and two sons in the home.
“There is some relief that he is not trapped in that condition, but we all will miss him,” Tommy Lane said.
Photo: AP
A boxer himself who won a US National Collegiate Athletic Association championship in 1960, Mills Lane went 10-1 as a pro before eventually making a much bigger mark in the sport as a referee.
Respected for being tough, but fair, his “let’s get it on” command became the final words heard before many memorable fights.
Mills Lane was the referee when Holyfield won the heavyweight title from Buster Douglas, and again when Tyson was disqualified during his second fight with Holyfield after intentionally biting his ear.
Mills Lane officiated more than 100 title fights, sharing the ring with greats such as Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes and Lennox Lewis, and was respected for his fairness and toughness.
Boxing was only his weekend job, Tommy Lane said.
Mills Lane was also a judge and district attorney, respected for his fairness and toughness — just as he was in the ring.
“In addition to his legendary status in the boxing world, Mills B. Lane was a pillar of justice in Washoe County [Nevada]. He was a no-nonsense dedicated district attorney,” Washoe County District Attorney Christopher Hicks said in a statement.
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