Mills Lane

[CutMeMick]

I talked to someone at the last Boxing Hall of Fame out here in Los Angeles and they mentioned something about him wanting to keep himself low profile plus his the fact that he's gotten up there in age.

[bradlee180]

I think southpaw welterweight Mills Lane was the best ref in the business for several years.

I really missed him when he retired.

Neumann, Nady, Cole, both Mercantes, Cortez, Steele: God help us.

Following Mills' retirement, I thought either Ron Lipton or Mitch Halpern was the best, but Halpern committed suicide, and Lipton was blacklisted because he couldn't be bought.

I think Kenny Bayless is the best right now.

Mills went 10 wins, 1 loss with 6 KOs as a pro before hanging them up to practice law.
45-4 as an amateur.

I've heard that Mills Lane's stroke damaged the part of the brain that controls speech, but he is still clear-minded. He is still aware; he just can't speak well. I remember following his stroke, Mills drafted a letter to the Texas Commission regarding an incompetent referee.

Mills' stroke happened April 1, 2002 which left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. Mills basically dropped out of the public view and out of the boxing world.

27 months later, Zahir Raheem fought Rocky Juarez where referee Robert Gonzales’ incompetent officiating caused Mills Lane to break his silence and send a letter to the Texas boxing commission. The following letter was published on boxing sites all over the net, and I read it on Fightnews.com and Ringtalk.com when it first came out. I thought enough of it that I saved it:


“July 27, 2004
Dick Cole
Program Administrator
Texas Combative Sports Program
PO BOX 1215
Austin, Texas 78711

Re: Rocky Juarez v. Zahir Raheem
Referee: Robert Gonzalez
Date of Fight: July 17, 2004, Houston, TX

Dear Mr. Cole:

I have reviewed the tape of the fight between Juarez and Raheem. From the first round through the end of the fight, Robert Gonzales interfered with Raheem's legitimate fight tactics and strategy. Mr. Gonzalez's conduct as a referee was despicable. He was blatant in his ongoing attempt to interfere with the flow of the fight. From my view, points should not have been deducted from Raheem. Juarez, on many occasions, held on to Raheem's glove, and as a result, his head would come into direct contact with the face of Raheem. Raheem's response to control the head of Juarez was a natural and legitimate technique. Ali often used this technique. Juarez punched on the break several times and was never warned.

In short this was the worst performance by any referee that I have witnessed. Raheem should not be penalized for suffering a loss because of a referee's conduct. In closing, I would urge the commissioners office to rule this fight a "no contest."

Mills Lane”

.