Lane replaces Halpern as ref for title fight

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Mills Lane will referee the Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson heavyweight title rematch Saturday night, replacing Mitch Halpern, who voluntarily withdrew after protests from Tyson's camp.
Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said today that Halpern withdrew because he did not want to be the focal point of the fight.
John Horne and Rory Holloway, Tyson's managers, had protested the assignment of Halpern, who refereed the first fight, when Holyfield stopped Tyson in the 11th round. But the commission voted 4-1 on Thursday to keep Halpern, who was assigned to work the bout last week.
"Mike Tyson is totally, totally convinced that this man cannot be fair with him in the fight," Horne said Thursday at a special commission meeting.
Jim Thomas, Holyfield's attorney, said at the meeting that Holyfield would have no problem if the commission switched to Lane.

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