By Elliot Foster

Terry Flanagan looks set to return to the ring later than scheduled.

The WBO lightweight world champion, who was last in action in July when he comprehensively outpointed former two-time global ruler Mzonke Fana of South Africa, was expected to defend his world title in Las Vegas on November 5, as part of the supporting cast to Manny Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight world title challenge against Jessie Vargas at the Thomas & Mack Center.

But Flanagan’s big night under the lights of the glitz and glamour of the capital of world boxing was curtailed for a little while longer last month after it was revealed that his mandatory challenger, Puerto Rico’s WBO Latino titlist Felix Verdejo (22-0, 15 KOs), had been involved in a motorbike accident and had suffered injuries which would mean that he wouldn’t be able to fight.

And now it seems that ‘Baby Bull’ Juan Diaz is in pole position to be ‘Turbo’s’ next foe, after the pair had taunted each other following Diaz’ calling out of the Ancoats man.

“We’re trying to get [Juan] Diaz over,” Flanagan’s manager Steve Wood told Boxing Scene. “We’re just waiting to find out whether he wants to come to the UK to fight Terry, because he’s said he wants it and now we’re just waiting to see what happens.”

Diaz, the 32-year-old former WBA Super, WBO and IBF champ at 135 pounds who holds a record of 42-4 (21 KOs) and last fought in August, scoring an eight-round stoppage victory over Cesar Vasquez in Tucson, Arizona, initially shouted out the world champion in an interview with Livefight, in which he said it “would be an honour” to accept a fight with BoxRec’s number one-rated lightweight in the country.

Wood stated that, whatever happens with regards to the potential Diaz clash, Flanagan would return in late October or early-to-mid-November.

“There is a possibility that Terry could fight on the undercard of the [Tyson] Fury-[Wladimir] Klitschko [rematch, which is set to be officially confirmed in the next week or so] on October 29 at Manchester Arena,” Wood continued.

“But if he doesn’t end up getting a spot on that bill, there’ll be a date in November for Terry.

“It’s still all got to fall into place but I’d imagine you’ll hear something in the next few weeks.”