LAS VEGAS -- Renowned boxing referee Mitch Halpern was found dead in his Las Vegas home Sunday afternoon, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County Coroner's Office confirmed Halpern's death, but offered few details.

Halpern, who is divorced and has a 4-year-old daughter, was with his fiancee at the time of the shooting.

"Our detectives did an investigation at the scene, and it was an obvious self-inflicted gunshot wound," police spokesman Lt. Wayne Petersen said.

The Nevada Athletic Commission said Halpern was regarded as one of the finest referees in boxing and expressed sorrow over his death in a statement.

"The Commission has lost a good friend and we want to express our deepest sympathy to his family at this difficult time," NSAC member Dr. Flip Homansky said.

"I was shocked," said Association of Boxing Commissioners president Greg Sirb. "He was up in the upper echelon of boxing referees, there was no question. When (referee) Mills Lane stepped aside (in 1997), Mitch Halpern filled the void without missing a beat.

"He got put in a tough spot when Mills Lane suddenly stepped aside. Mitch had to grow up quick and took a lot of big fights in Nevada. Those kinds of voids you don't fill."

Halpern was the third man in the ring on Nov. 9, 1996, the night Evander Holyfield knocked out Mike Tyson for the WBA heavyweight title. Halpern also was to have refereed the infamous "Bite Fight" rematch, but Tyson's camp vehemently opposed. Halpern was replaced with Lane.

Halpern, who got his start in March 1991 and went on to referee 87 championship fights and hundreds of non-title fights around the world, also worked Lennox Lewis-Holyfield II, Holyfield-Michael Moorer II, Felix Trinidad-Oscar De La Hoya, De La Hoya-Ike Quartey and Johnny Tapia-Danny Romero.

"He was known as a very fair referee that handled pressure," Sirb said. "That's going to be a big void to fill in Nevada. In my opinion, there are very few world-class referees. You can count them on two hands, but Mitch Halpern was one of them."

Promoter Bob Arum, president of Top Rank, was stunned at the news of Halpern's death and noted the referee did something that is virtually impossible in the boxing world: remain universally liked and appreciated.

"I'm just flabbergasted," Arum said, describing Halpern in and outside the ring as focused. "I don't think he had an enemy.

"He was such a stable, rational personality -- cool under pressure, unflappable. A lot of people, myself included, felt like he was the best around. Nobody ever questioned his integrity."

Funeral services for Halpern are Friday at 3 p.m. at the Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach, Calif.

A memorial service is also scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Monday at Temple Beth Shalom in Las Vegas.

Halpern's family asked for donations to the Make A Wish Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.