• Antonio Margarito v Miguel Cotto

Margarito cleared by NYSAC to fight Cotto

Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto have a score to settle when they meet again on December 3 © Getty Images

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Antonio Margarito has been given the green light to fight Miguel Cotto in New York, after his hearing with the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) proved successful on Wednesday.

Margarito and Cotto are set for one of the most anticipated rematches of recent times. Margarito won the first encounter, but is widely suspected of using illegal handwraps after stopping Cotto in the 11th round.

The issue ahead of the rematch in three weeks' time surrounded the eye of Margarito, who had to have an operation after his last fight with Manny Pacquiao. He had to have a cataract removed and an artificial lens inserted, and the NYSAC has finally cleared him to fight.

Now the issue for Margarito will be Cotto's intention to target the right eye, as he seeks revenge for their first battle. Come December 3, there will certainly be plenty of bad blood between the two fighters.

"I'm going to use any kind of advantage I feel I have over him, everything I have in the ring," said Cotto. I'm going to fight like always, with my heart and my soul. I'm going to do my work.

"Playing with the health of somebody else, attempting to kill - he used plaster on his wraps, he used a weapon on me - he has to be treated like a criminal.

"In sports we use only our skills and conditioning. I've carried my loss like a man for the last three years. I didn't ask for the people to erase the defeat. That's not the issue. He has to accept what he used and what he did in 2008."

Margarito was banned from boxing for 16 months following a fight with Shane Mosley, when he was found guilty of having illegal handwraps back in 2009.

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