A hearing to determine whether suspended heavyweight Joe Mesi is healthy enough to resume boxing has been tentatively set for April 18. Keith Kizer, Nevada's chief deputy attorney general, said Thursday the date was set after the Nevada State Athletic Commission received all of the requested medical

records dealing with Mesi's head injury within the last week. All that's left is word from the Mesi camp whether that date works for them to attend the hearing in Las Vegas. "All the medical records are in to our knowledge and we're ready to go,'' Kizer said. "Hopefully, we'll know by Monday.'' Mesi (29-0) was the WBC's top-ranked contender before falling out of the ranking entirely in October. The suburban Buffalo native has been suspended indefinitely, pending a review of his medical records, since winning a unanimous decision over Vassiliy Jirov in Las Vegas in March 2004.

Mesi hung on for the win, despite being knocked down three times in the final two rounds. He sustained a subdural hematoma - bleeding on the brain. Any sign of bleeding could lead the Nevada commission to issue a permanent fighting ban, which would be enforced throughout the country.

Mesi's father and manager, Jack Mesi, said he was thrilled that a date has finally been set, but is still checking to make sure his representatives, including noted sports neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Cantu are available.

Cantu is a central figure in making Mesi's case. He has examined Mesi and is prepared to testify that the boxer is fully recovered and should be cleared to resume fighting.

"We're focusing on that date but it has not been confirmed,'' Jack Mesi said. "Probably won't be for 48 hours or so.''

The hearing will be held before the commission's medical committee, which will make a recommendation on whether to lift Mesi's suspension. The recommendation will then go to the commission, which is expected to make a formal ruling within the following two weeks.

Confident that the commission will rule in his son's favor, Mesi is relieved that the yearlong wait is finally approaching an end.

"It feels like the weight of the world is off my shoulders,'' Jack Mesi said. "We are eager and have been eager and ready to go weeks and weeks and months ago.''

Joe Mesi is back in Buffalo after spending the past month working out in Houston.

"He's doing some weight training and some running and preparing for this upcoming hearing physically and mentally,'' Jack Mesi said.

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