By Michael J. Campbell

According to Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Juan Diaz's next fight will probably come against WBO-interim lightweight champion Joel Casamayor.

At the recent Houston media conference to introduce Diaz as a Golden Boy fighter, Schaefer said that HBO reserved two dates for the possible Casamayor-Diaz clash, July 26 and September 13, which is Mexican Independence Day. The potential fight would take place in Houston.

Schaefer is hoping to finalize the deal in the next two-weeks. Another name mentioned was the returning Marco Antonio Barrera, who would make a strong opponent for the September date. Diaz is coming off the first loss of his career. He dropped a twelve-round decision, and his WBO/IBF/WBA lightweights titles, to Nate Campbell on March 8 in Cancun, Mexico.