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

James Toney Makes $500,000 For Failed Mma Debut » Former champion boxer James (Lights Out) Toney made US$500,000 for his short-lived MMA debut, a first-round submission loss to Randy (The Natural) Couture at UFC 118 last weekend in Boston… Source: www.tsn.ca

Texas Official Explains Margarito Licensing » While Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito and the rest of the circus wind their way through this week’s three-city media tour, which concludes Friday at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas, perhaps the most important person in the whole sideshow is missing. • William Kuntz, who most of you have probably never heard of, is probably working in his office somewhere deep in the heart of Texas while everyone else involved in the fight is off selling it… Dan Rafael, espn.go.com

Dan Rafael’s Weekend Notebook » Slowly but surely, the Devon Alexander-Timothy Bradley junior welterweight unification match, slated for Jan. 29 (HBO), is coming together… Source: espn.go.com

Pacquiao/Margarito photo: AP Photo/ Louis Lanzano

» WHO YOU LIKE? Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito. Check out my pre-fight coverage from the NYC press conference (Wednesday, September 1, 2010.) I received some good quotes from Harold Lederman (HBO), Chris Mannix (SI.com) and boxing aficionado Pablo Santiago. I like Manny. Enjoy! —LC

» “I feel him and his trainer should be banned for life.” —Freddie Roach. Antonio Margarito vs Manny Pacquiao? Looks like Roach is singing a different tune now.

Taking A Field Trip To Canada For Chad Dawson Vs. Jean Pascal » Chad Dawson-Jean Pascal on Saturday is about as meaningful a bout as there is on the 2010 schedule. It offers Dawson, a strong contender for the best young American fighter there is today, and Pascal, a Canadian all-action highlight reel who very well could defeat Dawson. It’s being staged in the biggest city in Quebec, where they root loudly for their Canadian fighters but where the classy fans appreciate good performances by all. And it offers something that’s rarer than it should be: a chance to crown an honest-to-God, real division champion, in this case, the light heavyweight division… Tim Starks, queensberry-rules.com

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Deal Is Near To Bring Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito Fight To Cowboys Stadium » Apparently Manny Pacquiao hopes to make it back-to-back bouts at Cowboys Stadium. And if promoter Bob Arum is correct, the crowd for a Nov. 13 fight against Antonio Margarito would dwarf the 50,994 that watched Pacquiao easily handle Joshua Clottey in March… BARRY HORN, www.dallasnews.com

Pacquiao vs Margarito. Please Don’t Reward A Scoundrel! » Manny Pacquiao is without a doubt one of the greatest fighters in the history of professional boxing. His talent in the ring may only be surpassed by his enormous generosity and love of the people of his native Philippine Islands. Many people can learn something very valuable from Manny Pacquiao • He fights all comers and always without question gives the fans their monies worth. To this I say- Thank you and much respect, Sir. • But his team’s decision to fight Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13th has me scratching my head… Dr. Johnny Benjamin, www.huffingtonpost.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Camp Responds To HBO, Arum Comments » Hours after the president of HBO Sports said he had negotiated with both sides in an effort to make a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. mega-fight on Nov. 13, Mayweather’s lead adviser again denied the claim… Lance Pugmire, latimesblogs.latimes.com

Time For Pacquiao To Stop Cheating History By Inventing Weight Classes » Another event, another catch … weight, that is… Jake Donovan, sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Matthew Aguilar: Nevada Made Right Move On Antonio Margarito » Antonio Margarito had some big plans this fall. • The “Tijuana Tornado” was either going to fight a rematch with Miguel Cotto or, if Manny Pacquiao’s proposed superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell through, have an intriguing showdown with “Pac-Man” – maybe the most popular fighter in boxing. • Both fights would have garnered worldwide attention and generated millions of dollars. Both fights would have qualified as two of the more significant fights of the year. And both fights would have happened in Las Vegas. • But a funny thing happened on Margarito’s way to career rejuvenation. The Nevada State Athletic Commission reminded him that he was a cheater… Matthew Aguilar, www.elpasotimes.com

The Future Of Boxing After Mayweather & Pacquiao » It’s no secret boxing has been fighting with its back on the ropes for the past couple of years. With one megafight left to be made between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, one has to wonder if this will be the end of boxing as we know it. Although there are no fighters out there with the immediate impact of a Mayweather or a Pacquiao, there are five boxers who could take boxing off of the expected life support it will be on should Pacquiao vs Mayweather take place this November… Andreas Hale, live.drjays.com

Boxer Leaves Ring To Fight For Children » Lamont Ingram is looking to start a boy’s group home in the Riverside Drive Building recently purchased for his non-profit organization. The 29-year-old, who won Golden Gloves titles and has trained with the same camp as boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr., plans for the group home to house boys ages 12 to 17… STANLEY DUNLAP, www.jacksonsun.com

Punishing Antonio Margarito: A Year or A Career? » 
Does the crime dictate the punishment? Or do the consequences of the crime dictate the consequences for the criminal? • Those are the questions that those in boxing must ultimately contemplate when it comes time to decide whether Antonio Margarito should be allowed to fight again… David P. Greisman, boxingscene.com
 

MONDAY’S BOXING ROUNDUP: Dirrell Tkos Findley, Yorgey Upsets Hearns » Andre Dirrell (18-0, 13 KOs) scored an impressive sixth-round TKO over Derrick Findley (13-3, 8 KOs) in the main event of another spectacular edition of “ShoBox: The New Generation” from the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma on Saturday. • Dirrell, ranked No.1 by the WBO in the super middleweight division, nearly knocked Findley out in the very first round. A left hook, followed by a barrage of hooks and uppercuts staggered Findley against the ropes… Francis Walker, blackathlete.net

Cocky Hatton Fires Warning Shot » MANILA, Philippines—Manny Pacquiao will be in “for a shock” in his May 2 showdown with Ricky Hatton as the British “Hitman” claims he’s “in the best shape of his life.” • “I’ve got a little bit more finesse and I’m thinking about what I’m doing instead of steaming in there and making it easy for my opponents, so I’m better in every department now,” Hatton told The Daily Telegraph… Philippine Daily Inquirer, www.inquirer.net

(Margarito Photo by Juan Alicea Mercado/El Nuevo Dia)