By Dan Ambrose: In a message to the other 122 pound champions, WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (9-0, 7 KO’s) said that the other champions in the division are hiding from him and lack courage to take him out.

Rigondeux is speaking about champions Nonito Donaire, Jeffrey Mathebula, Takalani Ndlovu and Toshiaki Nishioka.

Rigondeaux will be making his first defense of his World Boxing Association super bantamweight title on Saturday against #14 WBC Teon Kennedy (17-1-2, 7 KO’s) in a pay-per-view bout on HBO on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Tim Bradley bout.

Rigondeaux told Elnuevoherald.com “At least I have to thank this guy [Teon Kennedy] for agreeing to fight me. All other so-called champions of the division have hidden. My promotional team has tried to reach them, but do not receive responses. They are cowards.”

Rigondeaux has been trying to get a fight against WBO champion Donaire, but he’s not even remotely interested in taking the fight with Rigondeaux, seeing him as a dull fighter that doesn’t interest him. However, Rigondeaux is widely considered to be the best fighter at 122lbs by many hardcore boxing fans. Rigondeaux would be a nightmare for puncher like Donaire, who likes to load up with his shots to try and score knockouts. Rigondeaux does really well against fighters that put everything they have in each punch, and it’s highly likely he would stop Donaire with a body shot much in the same way that Rigondeaux recently blew away WBA champion Rico Ramos last January by a 6th round TKO win.

Kennedy is a busy fighter known for throwing a lot of punches. It’s doubtful that he’ll do anything to change that style of fighting this Saturday. As such, this fight could end very quickly with Rigondeaux taking Kennedy out with a hard counter shot to the midsection within the first six rounds.