Ref doesn't matter to Holyfield

      The boxing world was abuzz about referee Mitch Halpern's decision to step down as referee for tonight's World Boxing Association heavyweight championship bout between Evander Holyfield and challenger Mike Tyson at the MGM Grand Garden.
      But it didn't seem that Halpern's removal and the appointment of Mills Lane meant much to the Holyfield side. Holyfield said he didn't care who refereed the fight, and didn't think it would make much difference in the outcome.
      Holyfield said Lane was quicker to take a point away from the fighters than most referees, one of the few differences between the two he could see.
      "One of the things that helps Mills Lane is that he is a (Washoe County) judge and he's used to making decisions," Holyfield said. "He's very confident in what he does. That holds a lot of weight. When he says, `I'm not going to warn you no more,' you better believe a point is coming off.
      "Some referees are a little more lenient. They'll warn you and warn you and warn you and warn you. You might fight the whole fight and they won't do anything about it. Mills Lane, when he warns you, you better know what he says is true, because on the next one, you're going to get it."
      Trainer Donald Turner said the controversy was much ado about nothing. He said he didn't care who refereed.
      "I didn't know Mitch Halpern was refereeing the first fight until we walked into the ring, and I didn't know he was doing this one until I read about it in the papers," Turner said. "The referee ain't fighting. It's the fighters who have to do it, and the referee don't amount to a hill of beans."
      -- PROMOTER DON -- Promoter Don King is notorious for signing fighters to long-term deals and locking them up for most of their careers. But Holyfield attorney Jim Thomas said Holyfield has no such contract with King.
      "Evander doesn't fight for King," Thomas said. "We don't work for Don King. Don King Productions Inc. is a company that promotes boxing matches. Don King Productions Inc. has the right to promote this fight, not promote Evander Holyfield, not tell him what to do or anything. It has absolutely no control over Evander Holyfield. They have the right to promote this fight.
      "Under certain circumstances, they may have the right to promote the next fight, but I'm not going to get into what those circumstances are. Under certain circumstances, Don King Productions Inc. may have the right to promote Evander's next fight (regardless of opponent.)"
      -- PAPER CHAMPION? -- Turner said he had tremendous respect for Tyson's ability, but said the former champion has been overrated by the media. Turner said he didn't think Tyson would be able to change his style to take on Holyfield tonight.
      Turner said the media has allowed Tyson's power to overshadow Holyfield's greatness as a fighter.
      "You saw him (Tyson) in all his fights," Turner said. "How differently can he come out? You saw him with all those spectacular knockouts. I think he has 20 in the first round. Guys didn't move. A half a step eliminates all that destruction.
      "What's the big deal? I don't understand. The media are the guys that made this guy invincible. Now they're trying to cover their tracks. They refuse to concede Holyfield is one of the greatest fighters who ever lived."
      -- WHERE'S THE SLIM-FAST? -- Holyfield's weight of 218 is three pounds more than he weighed when he took the title from Tyson on Nov 9. But Holyfield said it is not significant. He said he didn't try to gain weight intentionally.
      "The three pounds are not fat," Holyfield said, laughing. "It's more fluids. This is a dry climate, and before I went to the weigh-in, I drank a lot of fluids. I knew that would help me, because here you dry out quicker. You get irritable and all that. I'm used to the humid weather. In the humid weather, you know when you need water because you sweat. Here, you won't sweat, but you still dehydrate.
      "I have what it takes to win, but what I'm saying is I don't put on no more than I have to use. For me, 218 is fine. I've matured and I'm growing."