Referee Mills Lane to attend induction into International Boxing Hall of Fame

Until a few weeks ago, Mills Lane wasn’t sure if he could make the long trip from Reno to Canastota, N.Y., where he is being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. What’s more, the former referee wasn’t sure he wanted to.

Lane, 76, who was the victim of a stroke in 2002 and cannot speak, was worried how people would react when they saw him. He has been reclusive for the most part since the stroke, and even though the honor being bestowed upon him today is huge, Lane wasn’t sure he wanted to accept it in person.

But he recently met with New York Post reporter George Willis, who has written a book about the 1997 rematch between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in which Lane was the referee. It was the infamous “bite fight,” and when Lane interacted with Willis, he came to the realization that it wasn’t so bad.

“He was so concerned about people seeing him in the condition he’s in,” Lane’s son Terry said. “He was very self-conscious about his condition. But after he visited with George, it seemed to pick him up.”

Lane agreed to go and will be in upstate New York today as one of 10 honorees in the Class of 2013. Joining Lane are boxers Arturo Gatti, Virgil Hill, Myung-Woo Yuh, Wes Ramey and Jeff Smith, ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr., manager Arturo Hernandez, journalist Colin Hart and cartoonist Ted Carroll.

“He’s been looking forward to this for months,” Terry Lane said. “Boxing’s the common thread in his life, and for him to be honored by his peers makes this so special.”

Terry Lane said he wasn’t sure how the speech will be handled because his father can’t verbalize what he wants to say. Most likely, Terry and his brother Tommy will handle the speech.

“This may open a new chapter in his life,” Terry Lane said. “The fact that he could be there, in person, to accept this honor, it has put a little pep in his step. He’s definitely excited.”

■ BACK IN 2014? — Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s fall from the top of Forbes magazine’s highest-paid athletes could be brief.

Mayweather, who was the top earner in 2011-12 with $85 million but was tied for 14th with fellow boxer Manny Pacquiao in this year’s list released last week, could regain the top spot if he keeps his Sept. 14 date with Canelo Alvarez and fights in May as planned.

Mayweather fought only once during the time frame used by the magazine — June 1, 2012, to June 1, 2013 — and reportedly made $34 million for his victory over Robert Guerrero on May 4.

He’s expected to make close to $40 million for his bout with Alvarez, and if he fights in May, he’ll probably make at least that much.

If that were the case, Mayweather’s earnings would be around $80 million. By comparison, golfer Tiger Woods, who tops Forbes’ list this year, made $78.1 million.

■ LONGTIME EXECS LEAVE — Two key figures behind the scenes in boxing are leaving their posts.

Kery Davis, who was the senior vice president of sports for HBO and helped present boxing on the network for 14 years, is leaving. So is David Itskowitch, the chief operating officer at Golden Boy Promotions, who has been with the company since 2007.

Davis and Itskowitch said they are leaving on their own to seek new opportunities. Itskowitch’s departure is part of a major restructuring at Golden Boy.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.