Las Vegas NowBoxer Wins Nevada Court Fight

A heavyweight boxer sidelined since suffering bleeding on the brain in a bout 21 months ago won a chance Monday to get back in the ring -- somewhere.

A Nevada state judge ruled the state Athletic Commission's medical suspension of 32-year-old Joe Mesi expired when Mesi's Nevada license expired last December 31st.

Mesi's from Buffalo, New York. He and his father say he'll go into training as soon as possible and start his comeback.

He was 29-and-Oh -- and was the World Boxing Council's top-ranked contender when he suffered subdural hematomas in winning a unanimous decision against Vassiliy Jirov in Las Vegas in March 2004.

The judge didn't fault the state for exerting its statutory authority to suspend Mesi for medical reasons after he was hurt.

But he says he can't see how the suspension can outlive Mesi's boxing license.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)