Mills Lane, Legendary Boxing Ref, Passes Away At 85

If you are a longtime boxing fan, then you have certainly heard of Mills Lane. The man is a legend in the boxing world, and he is even in the Hall of Fame. Overall, the reason for this is simple. He was a referee for many years, and he was very well respected amongst his peers and other boxers.

Unfortunately, his health had been dwindling over the past few months. On Tuesday morning, he passed away at the age of 85. Furthermore, he was surrounded by family at the time of his death. Prior to his passing, he got to rewatch many of the fights he officiated.

Mills Lane Had An Amazing Resume

During his career, Lane got to officiate some truly memorable fights. Of course, the most iconic is the match between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. This is where Tyson ended up biting Holyfield’s ear off in a truly gross display of aggression.

While speaking about his father to ESPN, Terry Lane revealed just how amazing of a father Mills was. He spoke about his dad’s soft side and that people truly looked up to him and respected him.

“The past 20 years after the stroke were pretty tough, to be honest,” Lane said. “… We’re relieved of the outpouring of support. He was just this really amazing father and husband and I don’t know if people got to see that kind and sensitive side of him. My mom took care of him since the stroke; he never spent one night in a nursing home. I don’t know if Dec. 6 is my dad’s date of death or a new life for her.”

Since his passing, numerous former boxers have paid their respects to the man. He is someone who will be truly missed and his contributions will always be remembered.

RIP Mills Lane.

[via]