AUSTIN -- Mike Tyson, barred from fighting WBC-IBF heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in Nevada, applied for a license Thursday to fight in Texas.

The Nevada Athletic Commission voted 4-1 on Jan. 29 to deny Tyson a license to fight Lewis on April 6 in Las Vegas.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation will process the request despite a recommendation by the Association of Boxing Commissions that states deny Tyson a boxing license, department spokesman Kevin Ketchum said.

The ABC's suggestion isn't binding, because while state commissions uphold other states' license revocations or suspensions of boxers, they are not bound to honor a license denial.

Shelly Finkel, Tyson's adviser, has said seven states have expressed interest in a Tyson challenge to WBC-IBF heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

Shea Guinn, president and general manager of the Astrodome, is trying to bring the event to Houston.

"We are having some discussions right now about the possibility of the fight happening here," Guinn told Houston television station KRIV. "We are interested if the terms are right."

General manager Eddie Gossage of the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, told FOXSports on Thursday that he has been in discussions with both Tyson and Lewis representatives and the TMS is a finalist.

"We're crunching the numbers and seeing if this is something we want to do," Gossage said. "We're negotiating with them to try and put together something and see if we can make a bid that makes sense for them and us."

He did not confirm any dates, but said if the speedway gets the fight it would take place in late spring or early summer.

Lewis has said his WBC mandatory defense against Tyson won't happen on April 6 and that he might fight another opponent. Lewis, however, remains under contract for a Tyson fight.

The WBC has let it be known that it expects Lewis to fight the top-ranked Tyson before he fights anyone else.