By Elliot Foster

Juan Diaz is ramping up his preparations ahead of proposed showdown with Terry Flanagan.

The former WBO, IBO, WBA Super and IBF lightweight king, 42-4 (21 KOs), has been chasing a fight with the Ancoats champion, who is the current custodian of the Boxing Organisation crown, since the 27-year-old’s Las Vegas dream was momentarily curtailed last month.

Flanagan (31-0, 12 KOs) outpointed former ruler Mzonke Fana of South Africa in July in Cardiff and had been ordered to defend his belt against his mandatory challenger, Puerto Rico’s WBO Latino boss Felix Verdejo (22-0, 15 KOs), in his next fight.

That fight had been set to take place as the chief supporting contest to Manny Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight world title challenge against Jessie Vargas on November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

But it was canned last month after ‘Diamante’, 23, was involved in a motorbike accident which left him with injuries meaning that he would not be fit to fight on that date.

Steve Wood, Flanagan’s manager, told Boxing Scene that it was likely that Flanagan would return at the end of October, as part of the same bill as Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title rematch against Wladimir Klitschko, the former Ukrainian kingpin, on October 29 at the Manchester Arena, or on a date to be confirmed in November.

‘Scene was informed that there were discussions for Flanagan to box in the UK on November 12, with Wood and the rest of the Mancunian’s team “just waiting to find out whether he wants to come to the UK to fight Terry.”

Diaz’ manager, Brian Caldwell of Baby Bull Boxing, reached out to Boxing Scene in a bid to clarify the situation regarding a potential fight between the pair.

“We want the fight,” he said. “The only thing I know at this moment is that a very low offer has been sent [to us by Frank Warren, Flanagan’s promoter], but with no follow-up details.

“And when I say low, it probably won’t cover our expenses for the trip, so we’re waiting to hear back.”

When Boxing Scene last spoke with Caldwell, he said that no offer was on the table and that was confirmed by Carl Moretti, the Top Rank vice-president, at the time.

But now the wheels appear to be in motion with regards to getting the pair in a ring together.

“Terry Flanagan is the champion and we respect that,” Caldwell continued, “but Juan is a four-time world champion who fills stadiums and, as his manager, I can’t put him in a situation that is a financial loss.

“He is willing to take low pay but not a loss.”

And we understood that Flanagan and his trainer, Steve Maylett, have zero interest in facing any other fighter in the 135-pound division.

“We want the fight, make no mistake about it, and we believe it’s a fight we can win,” Caldwell continued. “Juan is a very respectful fighter and he has a lot of respect for Terry, but if he has to travel then that’s it,” Caldwell told Boxing Scene on September 7.

“We respect that Terry is the champion and we’re ready to travel to the UK and take that belt to become a world champion once again.

However, there has been no further movement on a deal, with all sides going quiet.

“[There has been] no [movement] at all [since we said that their initial offer was low,” said Caldwell.

Frank Warren was unavailable for comment to Boxing Scene at the time of writing, but he did tell Kugan Cassius of iFL TV that he is “quite close to delivering something” for the lightweight titlist.