It wasn't long ago that a fighter in their 30s would have been considered ancient. In recent years, however, many fighters have won championships in their 30s and 40s, even in lower weight classes where aging seems to be accelerated. Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz, now 32, would like to add his name to that list of old-timers finding a second wind.

"I'm not an old man, but as a fighter, being honest, I'm getting up in age," Diaz told FloBoxing. "At 32, I'm pushing the limits. I started when I was 8-years-old. As many amateur fights as I had and as many professional fights as I have, most people consider me an old fighter." 

With a record of 42-4 with 21 knockouts, the former lightweight champion is pushing hard to once again rule the historic division. It's a weight class in dire need of a king. In its 130-year history, elite fighters like Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker, Benny Leonard and more all excelled as lightweights. But since 2010 the division's belts have been scattered and lightweight has no dominant champion. That's where Diaz believes he can enter the fray, starting with WBO champion Terry Flanagan. 

"Flanagan has my belt," Diaz said "I was the reigning champion for a few years, then Nate Campbell and [Juan Manuel] Marquez came into the picture and took all that away from me. But  the world is only so big, and Flanagan can only put me off for so long before I become the number one challenger and the mandatory for my old belt."

In early August the WBO ordered Flanagan to start negotiating with unbeaten Puerto Rican contender Felix Verdejo, and the bout would have likely been on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs. Jessie Vargas in November. That idea was scrapped when Verdejo suffered career-halting injuries in a motorcycle accident just days later. Though he hopes Verdejo is able to recover quickly, Diaz is ready to step in and face Flanagan in November. 

"Terry Flanagan would be the logical choice not only for me, but for Top Rank. I expressed my feelings to [Top Rank] already. I haven't heard any feedback. Now is the time for me to step up and show what I have left in the tank, and I'm hoping Top Rank sees that and Flanagan decides to give me that chance."

Since returning to boxing in 2013, Diaz has won seven fights in a row. Though most of his opponents have been journeyman types, the Houston native has still improved steadily despite a rotator cuff injury that required surgery. In his most recent outing against Cesar Vazquez on August 6th, Diaz deftly counter-punched his way to a stoppage win in eight rounds, demonstrating a more mature style than the frenetic one he preferred in his 20s. 

"I'm a veteran of the sport now," said Diaz. "I've been more strategic [during my comeback] in how I'm fighting and now we talk about it beforehand. I don't throw 80 punches per round anymore. I throw closer to 60 punches per round now, but I'm more accurate. I can see things better, I can react better."

It's not just a style progression, but also his new team that have Diaz believing he can once again be lightweight champion. When Diaz decided to resume his career in 2013, he parted ways with longtime trainer Ronnie Shields and hired Shields' assistant Derwin Williams. Much-needed stability and trust comes from an established partnership with manager/conditioning coach Brian Caldwell, who has been in Diaz's corner since he was 15.

"This time around I have the A-team that I really needed. And it's not to say that the team that I had in the past was bad, because they took me to four world championships. But this time around I feel more free to express myself and do more things as a fighter than I did in the past."

Naturally, there is some skepticism as to how serious Diaz is about the sport now. Too often post-retirement comebacks amount to nothing more than money grabs and Quixotic journeys. Former champions want to relive old glories, and there is no shortage of fighters who cling to comeback hopes for far too long. In the latest example of exactly that, Antonio Margarito struggled his way through a fight against Ramon Alvarez last weekend. 

Diaz isn't against capitalizing on his name, but this is no money grab, he says. "It only helps that I'm a former world champion and it boosts my chances to get the shot to fight for another title. My name has some value to it. They know I'm a former world champion, but hopefully the way I look now they know I'm not just here for a payday. I'm here and I'm for real."

It's been an entire lifetime of boxing for Diaz. For 16 years as a professional he's employed a style based on hard work and making the most out of average punching power, speed and athleticism. He's used to being doubted, and now just wants another chance. 

"When I was 17-years-old I was featured on ESPN. One of the commentators said, 'This guy is a good action fighter but I don't think that he'll ever become a world champion. Years from now he'll be sitting on a couch and showing his old fights, saying he had great fights and fought on this network and that. But I don't think he'll ever be a champion.' And here I am now, actually on the couch, on the verge of challenging for my fifth world title. My biggest achievement thus far is being able to last in the sport and be good at it. Not just half-ass doing it, but really good at it. Now I'm ready to be a five-time world champion."