Hall of Fame boxing referee and former District Court Judge Mills Lane passes away at the age of 85

Hall of Fame boxing referee and former District Court Judge Mills Lane passes away at the age of 85

Mills Lane

Mills Lane was one the most legendary referee in the world of professional boxing. He has officiated more than 250 matches from the 1970s to the 1990s. During his tenure, he had worked during many notable moments. 

The Reno Gazette-Journal was informed by Tommy Lane, Lane’s son, that his father had been receiving hospice care for the previous week.  Mills Lane’s career as a referee came to an end after suffering from a heart stroke in 2002.

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Tommy Lane informed the newspaper, “It was a quick departure. He was comfortable and he was surrounded by his family…You never knew how long he had. We kind of felt like we were preparing for this all along,”

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He was arguably most remembered for the second Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield fight, sometimes known as the “Bite Fight,” which took place in 1997 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and featured the infamous incident of Tyson biting off a piece of Holyfield’s ear. 

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Mills lane’s Charismatic impact on Pop culture

Mills Lane Evander Holyfield
Mills Lane Evander Holyfield

Due to his charismatic persona inside the ring, he had a deep impact on pop culture. His “Let’s get it on” catchphrase was one of the most iconic lines in the world of boxing.

Featured in many reality tv shows most famous for the famous 90s animated series Celebrity deathmatch which featured many real-life celebrities going one on one inside the boxing ring.  He also officiated many other fights like Muhammad Ali vs. Bob Foster, Michael Spinks vs. Larry Holmes, Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. John Mugabi, Pernell Whitaker vs. Azumah Nelson, and many more.

Also Read: “You have to go…you understand?” Emotional Mike Tyson urged reporter to leave and broke down in tears talking about deceased daughter

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For most of the 1970s and 1980s, Mills Lane worked as a prosecutor in the Washoe County (Nev.) district attorney’s office before being chosen as the district attorney. He worked as a judge in the 1990s before appearing in the three-year TV series “Judge Mills Lan”.

For many years, Lane was a crucial component of the sport as well as a renowned attorney off the field. It was a life worth celebrating, and according to his family, it concluded as peacefully and amicably as one might hope.

Also read: Mike Tyson returns on big screen to play a leading role in a dramatic thriller movie “Black Flies”