Margarito granted boxing license in NY

Published Nov. 22, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Antonio Margarito has been granted a boxing license in New York, keeping his title fight with Miguel Cotto on schedule for Dec. 3 at Madison Square Garden.

The New York State Athletic Commission licensed Margarito on Tuesday after a medical examination determined he was healthy enough to fight.

Last week, the commission ordered another examination of Margarito's eye, which was seriously injured during his loss to Manny Pacquiao last year.

The commission's deliberate decision on Margarito's fitness nearly forced promoter Bob Arum to move the pay-per-view rematch to another state.

But earlier Tuesday, Cotto said he wouldn't fight Margarito anywhere except New York, surprising Arum during a promotional conference call.