Renowned Boxing Referee Mills Lane Passes Away at 85
The renowned boxing referee, Mills Lane, has passed away at the age of 85. Tommy Lane, the legendary official’s son, confirmed the news to Jim Krajewski of the Reno Gazette Journal, stating that his father had been in hospice care for the past week. Lane had suffered a severe stroke in 2002, which had left him partially paralyzed, and his overall condition had recently taken a significant turn for the worse.
“It was a quick departure,” Tommy Lane said. “He was comfortable, and he was surrounded by his family.”
Born in Savannah, Georgia, Mills Lane had a distinguished 27-year career as a boxing referee, officiating several high-profile matches. One of the most infamous was the WBA Heavyweight Championship rematch between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield on June 28, 1997, which ended with Tyson’s disqualification after he bit Holyfield’s ear.
Lane was known for his iconic catchphrase, “Let’s get it on!”, which he would utter at the beginning of each fight he refereed. He officiated his final bout in 1998 before embarking on a new journey as the host of the syndicated court show, “Judge Mills Lane”, which ran for three seasons.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the sport, Lane was inducted into both the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame and International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2013.
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