Referee Mills Lane dies at age 85

Mills Lane, a Hall of Fame referee who presided over more than 100 championship fights, including the Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield "Bite Fight," passed away on Tuesday morning at his Reno, Nevada, home, his son Terry Lane told ESPN. He was 85.

In March 2002, he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralysed and unable to speak. Lane was usually famous for saying "Let's get it on" before fights. 

During his final days, his wife Kaye and kids Terry and Tommy were by his side. The majority of that time was spent watching footage of the roughly 50 fights he officiated in the 1980s and 1990s, including Vito Antuofermo and Marvin Hagler's middleweight championship draw in 1979.

"The past 20 years after the stroke were pretty tough, to be honest," said Terry Lane, who manages his prominent Chinese boxers Zhang Zhilei and Fanlong Meng.

" ... 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."