Guillermo Rigondeaux to fight James Dickens on March 12 in England

One of the best fighters in the world is finally staying active.

Guillermo Rigondeaux, who signed with Roc Nation Sports in the fall, will travel to England to take on James "Jazza" Dickens on March 12 at the Liverpool Echo Arena in a 10-rounder. The Cuban's U.K. debut will serve as chief support to the lightweight title bout between Terry Flanagan and Derry Mathews.

Rigondeaux, Paste BN's No. 6 pound-for-pound fighter, has competed just four times since a career-best victory over Nonito Donaire in April 2013. The 35-year-old junior bantamweight ended a nearly one-year layoff with a wide-decision win over Drian Francisco in November,.

I hear he's very good, but I'm going to have to disappoint his hometown fans and teach him a lesson in boxing," said Rigondeaux. "I hope the British audience appreciates my skills when I'm done with James."

Dickens (21-1, 6 KOs) will be massive underdog, but will at least have the crowd behind him. He's won five straight bouts since a knockout defeat to Kid Galahad in 2013, but owns no victories over notable opposition.

"It is like a Rocky story, one day I'm just training waiting for my next fight and then I get call, 'do I want to fight Guillermo Rigondeaux? Are you mad, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world wants to fight me? Not half, I'll definitely have some of that!'" said Dickens, 24. "Opportunities like this don't come around every day so I've grabbed it with both hands.

"It's been my childhood dream to be the best in the world and this to me is a golden opportunity to become the best by beating Rigondeaux."

Rigondeaux (16-0, 10 KOs) has long been avoided by the best in his division, save for Donaire. The No. 1-rated 122-pounder in the world, "El Chacal" hopes to lure the winner of the all U.K. matchup on Feb. 27 between Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg.

"Frampton and Quigg are both cowards for finding ways to avoid the best in their division," he said. "We wait in anticipation to see if the winner of a great fight between them would step up and step in the ring with me, so the whole world can see who the best 122 pound fighter is.

"Fans should come see the real super world champion in Liverpool, as I'll be ready to put on a show and be in a position to happily knock out the winner, if either would even fathom the idea of stepping in the same ring with me."

(Photo of Rigondeaux by Joe Camporeale, Paste BN Sports)