December 6, 2022
Boxing News

Legendary referee Mills Lane passes

Sad to announce the passing of legendary Hall of Fame referee Mills Lane at the age of 85 in Reno, Nevada. Lane, who coined the catchphrase ‘let’s get it on,’ officiated many major boxing matches, including the famed “Bite Fight” between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson on June 28, 1997. After retiring as a referee, he starred in a reality TV court show for a number of years. Unfortunately, Lane suffered a debilitating stroke in 2002 that left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. Rest in peace.

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  • I thought he passed years ago, it must have been the stroke he suffered. He definitely was the best referee in my opinion.

  • RIP Mills Lane. I thought he passed away years ago and that he was in his ’90s

  • A referee in a big fight is just as memorable as the combatants, and Mills Lane refereed so many great matchups. He was a great man, a judge, and I will always remember him as such. I will always remember him as a man of supreme intelligence, character, dignity, and depth. Whenever he stepped into the ring, the world knew that he stood for excellence, and we were being treated to the best. Very sad news. As a long time boxing fan and student of the sport, my sincere condolences to his family.

    • Best ever to follow the movement of the fighters, handle the clinches and stop the fight if a fighter was taking too much damage.

  • One of the greatest of the greats. May he rest in peace and may God comfort his family and loved ones.

  • I’m sad to hear this. I didn’t know about his stroke. I think that Judge (he was an attorney and a judge) Mills Lane was one of the best, if not the best, referees ever.

  • Rest in peace Judge Mills!

    He was a fantastic referee! I will always remember him chastising Mike Tyson with a one word reply “bullsh!t!”

    Mike responded like a little kid caught in a lie about biting Holyfield’s ear. That was truly one of the funniest things I had ever seen in the ring.

    A well deserved ten count for you sir!

    • Also recount the way he handled the Lewis vs Akinwande fight as well as the second Lewis and McCall fight.

      • Yep. He was also there for the Fan Man incident, and of course the Tyson-Holyfield Ear fight. Mills had a variety of unusual incidents thrown his way during his career..

  • Mills was one of, if not the most prominent referees in the sport back in the 80s and 90s. Was just looking at his wiki page and was reminded that he once was a judge and had his own TV show for a few years. Also went 10-1 (6 KOs) during his boxing career. He lived quite the life. RIP Mills Lane.

  • He was a good man and a legit ref and he certainly helped to add to the sport in his own way. R.I.P.

  • Definitely one of the greatest referees in boxing history and a real man’s man. They don’t make them like Mills Lane anymore. RIP

  • Mills Bee Lane was the absolute best ref there was, none of us on this chat thread can ague that! Rest Easy Mills!

  • I wish we had more refs like the Honorable Mills Lane. He put up with no B.S. in the boxing ring and told it like it is. May he R.I.P. and thanks for the great memories.

  • I also thought he passed years ago. Strange so many of us thought he was gone a long time ago

  • We had legendary fighters in the 70s,80s,and 90s. Along with legendary referees. RIP one of the legends

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