A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO BOXING REFEREE MITCH HALPERN Halpern was a referree with men and women’s boxing.   WBAN covered a fight in Las Vegas, Nevada for the Karen Bill vs. Maria Johannson  fight where he reffed their four-round bout.  A few weeks later Halpern committed suicide.  WBAN reported the following: On Sunday, August 20, 2000, Boxing referee