By Miguel Rivera
Undefeated lightweight contender Felix 'El Diamante' Verdejo (22-0, 15KOs) made a request to the World Boxing Organization to keep him in line as the mandatory challenger to WBO world champion Terry Flanagan.
Verdejo is currently the WBO's Latino lightweight champion and stands in the top position within the rankings at 135-pounds.
There was talk of Verdejo facing Flanagan this fall, but the Puerto Rican boxer was involved in a bad motorcycle accident back in August.
Verdejo is expected to return to the ring in January for a preparatory fight, and then he wants to fight for the title on March 17 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Flanagan is taking a voluntary defense next month. His promoter, Frank Warren, wants Flanagan (31-0 and 12 KOs) to land a huge opportunity next year. The selection at the top of their list is a unification with the winner of next year's rematch between World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Jorge Linares and former beltholder Anthony Crolla - which is expected to happen in the first quarter of 2017.
The sanctioning body kept Verdejo in place. But WBO President Francisco 'Paco' Valcarcel issued a firm warning to the 23-year-old boxer - that if he's unable to follow through with the world title shot, then his opportunity is out the window and Petr Petrov - ranked at 2 - will replace him and become the new mandatory challenger.
"I thanked the WBO for the gift of being named 'Latino Boxer of the Year', but I also told them I wanted to remain as the mandatory challenger for a world title fight next year," said Verdejo to EL Vocero.
"We had some great conversations to fight on November 5, but that couldn't happen because of my accident. I am already training and I'll be 100 percent next year. I'm already focused and I learned my lesson."
