BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Heavyweight Joe Mesi was granted a boxing license in Puerto Rico on Friday where he is planning his first fight in two years since having his medical suspension lifted.

Mesi is scheduled to arrive in San Juan on Saturday, when he will be formally presented his license by Jose Penagaricano, chairman of the Puerto Rican Boxing Commission. Although an opponent has not yet been signed, Mesi`s bout is tentatively scheduled for April 1 in Guaynabo, a city just outside of San Juan.

Penagaricano expressed concerns about Mesi`s medical history after the boxer sustained a brain injury in his last fight. But Penagaricano said Mesi passed all of the commission`s exams.

"All were perfect, everything," Penagaricano told The Associated Press. "Of course I am worried, but all the medical advice he sent me is positive."

A native of suburban Buffalo, Mesi (29-0) had been the World Boxing Council`s top-ranked contender before falling completely off the charts during his suspension.

The fight would be Mesi`s first since he suffered at least two subdural hematomas -- brain bleeds -- in winning a unanimous decision over Vassiliy Jirov in Las Vegas in March 2004.

The injury led to Mesi being suspended indefinitely by the Nevada Athletic Commission, which bars licensing boxers who have any history of brain bleeds. The suspension, under U.S. law, also prevented Mesi from gaining a license to fight anywhere in the country.

Mesi had the suspension overturned in December, when a Nevada state judge ruled the boxer`s medical suspension expired when his Nevada boxing license expired at the end of 2004.

Insisting that he is fully recovered, Mesi also presented expert medical testimony, arguing he faced no increased risk of another head injury.

Nevada boxing officials had previously turned down Mesi`s appeals, fearing he could risk more serious and possibly permanent injury if he resumed fighting.

Puerto Rico issuing Mesi a license coincided with the Nevada commission officially having the boxer removed from the suspended list Friday.

Mesi`s father and manager Jack Mesi said he is accompanying his son to Puerto Rico to complete plans for the fight, including securing an opponent.

Jack Mesi said he plans to have his son fight a couple of tuneups against weaker opponents to get back in shape.

"He`s in mediocre shape. He`s not what he was when he fought Jirov," Mesi said. "I think the boxing world, at least most of the people know, we`re entitled to a couple of get-the-rust-off type fights, which we`re going to do.

"We`ll move him according to the pace that he shows his body is capable of recovering at."

Mesi said his son will stay in Puerto Rico to train before the fight.

"We`ve passed all the rigors, all the certifications, all the medicals," Mesi said.

The fight will be promoted by Javier Bustillo, a native Puerto Rican. Mesi has been without a promoter since Tony Holden resigned from the boxer`s camp in August 2004.