Former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito has officially received medical approval for a Dec. 3 rematch with WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, co-manager Francisco Espinoza said…

Former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito has officially received medical approval for a Dec. 3 rematch with WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, co-manager Francisco Espinoza said.

Additionally, Espinoza announced that Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs), who was sidelined with injuries stemming from last November’s loss to Manny Pacquiao, has already begun recovery training sessions.

“What was stopping us was the medical approval but he received it from the doctor and now he can move forward,” Espinoza said. “He is already in light training.”

The bout, which is tentatively scheduled to occur at Madison Square Garden, will be for Cotto’s WBA super welterweight title (154 pounds), with no option of a catch weight.

Although Margarito is currently walking around at an estimated 165 pounds, Espinoza guarantees that the weight cut will be no issue.

“We are going to have strong sparring sessions on a steady basis. And so it’s going to even out a little with Antonio’s inactivity. And win or lose going forward, he is eager to continue and he feels completely fine,” Espinoza said. “He runs like he’s in a marathon. He likes that and he’s in perfect condition.”

Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs), who has won four out of his last five bouts, lost in the first bout to Margarito on July 26, 2008 by technical knockout in the eleventh round at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“We’re going out that night to win again,” Espinoza said. “It will be a great fight.”

—Alex Neely, ROUND1MAG.COM

Top Rank Promotions CEO, Bob Arum, says the under card of Showtime’s main event featuring eight-division titlist Manny Pacquiao against three-division, five-time champion, Shane Mosley, could be haunted by the comeback of a “Ghost”.

Former WBC and WBO middleweight (160 pounds) champion, Kelly Pavlik (36-2, 32 knockouts) may return to the ring on May 7, according to Arum.

“We’re holding a spot on that card,” said Arum to Boxing Fanhouse. “Kelly wants to do it, we want to do it. So there is a big possibility that he could be on the card.”

28-year old Pavlik had been released from Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif. on Jan. 4, after having been admitted for alcohol issues on Nov. 4.

Although the comeback of the Youngstown, Ohio-native will inevitably spark potential match-up speculations, Pavlik’s manager, Cameron Dunkin, wants to make it clear that his personal matters come first.

“Kelly told me that he doesn’t want to disappoint anybody any more. He wants to get his life in order,” Dunkin said previous to his release. “So we’re just bringing him home and letting him see his family, and then we’ll let him rest and talk about his career or whatever else in a week or two.”

Pavlik’s alcohol problems stemmed back to 2007, during which he dethroned Jermain Taylor in an impressive seventh-round knockout in Atlantic City.

After another decision victory over Taylor, and third-round stoppage over Gary Lockett, Pavlik suffered his first loss at the hands of Bernard Hopkins (in a bout at 170 pounds) by decision in October of 2008.

Pavlik recovered with two straight knockout victories, before being dethroned in April by unanimous decision, to now Pound-for-Pound ranked, Sergio Martinez.

Most recently, Pavlik had been scheduled to fight on the Nov. 13 under card of Pacquiao versus Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title at Dallas Stadium; however, cited a rib injury as his reason for pulling out of the bout with Bryan Lee Vera.

Personal problems and speculations aside, it will be interesting to see if the “Ghost” will have the capability to instill fear in the middleweight division again.

— Alex Neely