Legendary referee Mills Lane dies

One of the most famous referees in boxing history, Mills Lane, passed away Tuesday morning in Reno, Nevada, at the age of 85. His son, Tommy Lane, told the Reno Gazette Journal that his father died after spending a week in a hospice. He is survived by his wife Kay and sons Terry and Tommy. 20 years ago, Lane suffered a severe stroke, and his general health has not been the same since then.

“His general condition deteriorated dramatically,” said Tommy Lane. “It was a quick exit. He was comfortable and died surrounded by his family. Nobody knew how much he had left. We kind of felt and prepared for this all the time, but it is, of course, impossible to prepare for this.”

Lane began boxing while serving in the US Marine Corps in 1956. While in Okinawa, he became the regional welterweight champion. He went to college and fought professionally at the same time, achieving a 10-1 record. Lane graduated from the University of Nevada at Reno in 1963. There he began his career as a boxing referee.

Lane is remembered for his phrase that he said to the boxers before the fight: "Let's get it on" (Let's get it on). He has been a referee in over 100 championship fights.

He was best known in the United States for his fight on June 28, 1997, when he was the third man in the ring in a rematch between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson in Las Vegas. Tyson bit Holyfield twice on the ear at the beginning of the fight, and Lane disqualified him.