Antonio Margarito gets license to fight Manny Pacquiao in Texas

The long wait is over for the Pacquiao-Margarito boxing match as Texas has approved Thursday Antonio Margarito's boxing license application to fight in the state against Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has picked Margarito to replace Floyd Mayweather, Jr. as Manny Pacquiao's opponent for his November 13 scheduled fight. The Pacquiao-Mayweather dream fight has been shelved for the second time when Mayweather refused to sign a fight agreement with Pacquiao after Arum gave him a deadline last July 16. The first of the two failed negotiations happened last March when Mayweather demanded an Olympic-style random blood and urine tests for Pacquiao before before giving his consent to fight the Filipino boxer. Mayweather said he believes Pacquiao is into performance enhancing drugs or steroids which is the real reason why he has been winning almost all of his recent fights. Pacquiao declined Mayweather's demand saying he is clean and he had passed all drug tests required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the regulating body of sports including boxing in the state of Nevada. Margarito is expected to face Pacquiao for a vacant junior middleweight title on Nov. 13.

"I want to thank the state of Texas for granting me a boxing license, which enables me to continue my passion for the sport of boxing in the United States," Margarito said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. "I have dedicated my life to giving the fans of the sport entertainment and excitement. On Nov. 13, this great opportunity will ultimately be fulfilled."

Pacquiao leaves on Sunday for the US for a week-long promotional tour that will bring him and his entourage in the states of California, New York and Texas. The fight will take place on November 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.