Wayne McCullough, right, hits Len Martinez during their super bantamweight fight at the Hard Rock Hotel on Aug. 30, 1999. The Nevada Athletic Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to lift McCullough's medical suspension, but he must appear before the commission in order to get a boxing license. Photo by Craig L. Moran.

Wayne McCullough, who said he has spent "thousands of dollars" in the last year to prove his fitness to box, won a round Wednesday when the Nevada Athletic Commission voted unanimously to lift his medical suspension.

The Las Vegan had been under a temporary medical suspension since being stopped by Oscar Larios in the 10th round of their July 15 fight for the WBC super bantamweight title at the MGM Grand.

McCullough, 35, still must appear before the commission and convince it that he deserves a boxing license. Wednesday's vote was a narrow one and addressed only whether McCullough fulfilled the commission's medical requirements.

But several commissioners seemed skeptical that he can still compete safely.

"I will be concerned about your safety," chairman Skip Avansino told McCullough. "My perception of your safety may be different from that of your wife's and yours. I will be guided heavily by (executive director) Marc Ratner's perception of your skill level."

McCullough (27-6, 18 knockouts) said he has at his own expense taken three MRI tests, a computerized axial tomography scan, a head minder test, an electrocardiogram, an electroencephalogram, a chest X-ray and four neurology tests. He said he passed all tests.

On Monday, the commission's medical advisory board voted 3-0 to lift the suspension. On Wednesday, the full commission followed suit.

McCullough is a former WBC bantamweight champion and a 1992 Olympic silver medalist. He is noted for having one of boxing's best chins and has never been knocked down.

However, he has lost three of his last four fights and hasn't beaten a top-10 opponent since winning a split decision over Jose Luis Bueno on March 30, 1996.

McCullough said he's unaware of a fighter who is medically tested more often than he is and that safety is his primary consideration.

"My wife is my worst critic and she knows me better than anyone," he said. "If I declined even 1 percent, she's the person who would notice it. And she wouldn't let me do this."

McCullough said he is not fighting for money but rather for pride and a love of the sport. He said he believes he deserved a decision over Larios in their first fight last Feb. 10 in Lemoore, Calif. He said Larios' trainers knew he was dangerous even in the late stages of their rematch.

A native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, McCullough became a U.S. citizen last year. He said he wants a license to box in Las Vegas and will go to court if the commission rules against him.

"My attorney (Stuart Campbell) has a lawsuit ready to go," McCullough said. "I get hit a lot, but you have to understand that not a lot of those punches are flush. I learned from (Hall of Fame trainer) Eddie Futch how to roll with punches, and a lot of the shots people think are hitting me squarely aren't really flush.

"My health is my top priority. I understand what the risks are, but I'm healthy and I'm still able to do this."

He said he is interested in potential bouts against WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon or IBF-WBC champion Israel Vazquez.

• NOTE -- The commission's Advisory Committee on Boxer Health & Safety will meet at 8 a.m. Friday at the Sawyer Building.