Mike Tyson will be granted a Californian boxing licence without a hearing, paving the way for his projected double-header with Lennox Lewis on June 21st in Los Angeles.
The California State Athletic Commission indicated via an informal vote that they would grant Tyson the right to fight under their jurisdiction.
Their decision means promoters can press ahead with plans for the card, which is likely to feature Lennox Lewis against Canadian Kirk Johnson and Tyson against the fading Russian Oleg Maskaev.
California commission member John Frierson said: "It would be great to have Mike here. He's a good draw and he's paid his debt to society - that's in the past."
Tyson had been told last week that he would not be granted a licence in New Jersey, scuppering plans to hold the bout at Meadowlands.
His past misdemeanours had given him similar problems in the build-up to last June's defeat by Lennox Lewis. Nevada refused to re-licence him and other states followed suit until he was finally welcomed into Tennessee.
But an element of uncertainty still surrounds both headline bouts at the downtown Staples Center, which are planned to build up towards a future rematch between Lewis and Tyson.
Lewis is unlikely to carry his WBC title into the ring to face Johnson. The WBC want Lewis to fight Vitali Klitschko but despite continued negotiations the two parties concerned are no closer to striking a deal.
It is therefore likely that Lewis will have only the lightly-regarded IBO belt left by the time he gets into the ring to face the Canadian.
A fight against Johnson is unlikely to sell well on its own either on pay-per-view or in the arena itself, which has forked out a large seven-figure site fee.
Which is why Tyson's appearance on the undercard is vital - and the former champion was conspicuous by his absence at a press conference to announce the fights yesterday.
Rumours of a reunion with his former promoter Don King abound and have done nothing to stitch back together the promoters' frayed nerves.
According to "Boxing News", King is ready to drop an outstanding multi-million dollar lawsuit against Tyson and receive future options in the process.
While that eventuality would not immediately scupper the chances of Tyson appearing on the Lewis undercard it would make the future months less predictable.
Tyson has earned over $200million in the ring but still has financial problems which have likely persuaded him to get back with King.