By Miguel Rivera

Puerto Rican boxer Felix 'El Diamante' Verdejo will not return to action for the remainder of the year, according to his manager/trainer Ricky Marquez.

This past Friday, Verdejo was released from the Rio Piedras Medical Center for injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He spent six days in the facility for numerous bruises, severe cuts and scrapes that were all over his face and body. The accident happened when Verdejo lost control of his motorcycle and crashed.

Verdejo, 23-years-old and the Latino lightweight champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), was in negotiations to challenge WBO champion Terry Flanagan of the UK on November 5th.

The fight between Verdejo and Flanagan had been preliminarily planned to be part of the event on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, a card being headlined by a world title bout between Manny Pacquiao and the current WBO champion in the welterweight division, Jessie Vargas.

"In 2016, Felix will not fight again," Marquez told Carlos Gonzalez. "We will focus on his physical well being to ensure a full recovery of the lacerations that he has on the body."

Verdejo returned to Rio Piedras Medical Center for the removal of the stitches on his face and head.

"He will need time while the wounds heal on the shoulders and arms. Now we will concentrate on taking good care of him, so he recovers as soon as possible," concluded Marquez.

Verdejo (22-0, 15 KOs) has closed 2016 with three bouts. He won two by unanimous decision and one by TKO. The last ring appearance came in June when he knocked out Juan Jose Martinez in five rounds.