Mitch Halpern
Encyclopedia
Mitchell Howard "Mitch" Halpern (July 14, 1967 – August 20, 2000) was a renowned boxing
referee
who officiated some of boxing's biggest matches.
He began his career in March 1991 and went on to referee 87 championship fights and hundreds of non-title fights around the world. He was criticized for not stopping the fight on May 6, 1995 when Jimmy Garcia challenged Gabriel Ruelas
for his WBC super featherweight title. Garcia lost that fight by TKO and died 13 days later from injuries sustained during the fight. He was in the ring when Evander Holyfield
knocked out Mike Tyson
for the WBA heavyweight title in 1996. He was scheduled to have refereed the infamous "Bite Fight" rematch but Tyson's camp vehemently opposed and he was replaced by Mills Lane
.
Halpern was also the referee for many big Las Vegas
fights, including Oscar De La Hoya
vs. both Ike Quartey
and Félix Trinidad
, the rematch between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis
, the first fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield and the first of three meetings between Erik Morales
and Marco Antonio Barrera
.
He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound
which was reported to be the result of a domestic dispute.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
referee
Referee (boxing)
The referee in the boxing is the individual charged with enforcing the rules of that sport during a match.-The role of the referee:Referees have the following roles:*Gives instructions to both boxers before the fight...
who officiated some of boxing's biggest matches.
He began his career in March 1991 and went on to referee 87 championship fights and hundreds of non-title fights around the world. He was criticized for not stopping the fight on May 6, 1995 when Jimmy Garcia challenged Gabriel Ruelas
Gabriel Ruelas
Gabriel Ruelas, , was a professional boxer.Career=Ruelas turned pro in 1988 and in 1993 challenged WBC Super Featherweight Title holder Azumah Nelson, losing a close majority decision. In 1994 he was able to capture the title by outpointing Jesse James Leija...
for his WBC super featherweight title. Garcia lost that fight by TKO and died 13 days later from injuries sustained during the fight. He was in the ring when Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield is a professional boxer from the United States. He is a former undisputed world champion in both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, earning him the nickname "The Real Deal"...
knocked out Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
for the WBA heavyweight title in 1996. He was scheduled to have refereed the infamous "Bite Fight" rematch but Tyson's camp vehemently opposed and he was replaced by Mills Lane
Mills Lane
Mills Bee Lane III is a retired boxing referee, a former boxer, was a two term Washoe County District Court Judge, and television personality...
.
Halpern was also the referee for many big Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
fights, including Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar de la Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
vs. both Ike Quartey
Ike Quartey
Ike "Bazooka" Quartey is a former WBA Welterweight champion boxer. He has fought numerous world champion boxers including Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas, Vernon Forrest and Ronald "Winky" Wright.-Biography:...
and Félix Trinidad
Félix Trinidad
Félix 'Tito' Trinidad, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional boxer, considered one of the best in Puerto Rico's history. After winning five National Amateur Championships in Puerto Rico, he debuted as a professional when he was 17. He won his first world championship when he defeated Maurice Blocker...
, the rematch between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis
Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
, the first fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield and the first of three meetings between Erik Morales
Erik Morales
Érik Isaac Morales Elvira is a Mexican professional boxer. He is the first Mexican born boxer in history to win a world title in four weight classes and is the current WBC Light Welterweight Champion...
and Marco Antonio Barrera
Marco Antonio Barrera
Marco Antonio Barrera Tapia is a Mexicanprofessional boxer. He has won numerous world titles in three different weight classes; he is a former two-time WBO super bantamweight , WBC, Lineal, & The Ring featherweight , and WBC & IBF super featherweight champion...
.
He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
which was reported to be the result of a domestic dispute.