ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania – Now that Guillermo Rigondeaux has established himself within the bantamweight division, the Cuban veteran has his sights set on the best 118-pound boxer in the sport.

The 39-year-old Rigondeaux revealed late Saturday night that he wants to fight Japanese star Naoya Inoue next. Inoue already has a title unification fight against Johnriel Casimero set for April 25 in Las Vegas, but Rigondeaux hopes he can challenge Inoue for 118-pound supremacy later this year.

“We’re going Monster-hunting next,” Rigondeaux said through a translator, referring to Inoue by his nickname. “We want Inoue next. We want to go after the WBA bantamweight ‘super’ title next.”

The 26-year-old Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) owns the WBA’s “super” 118-pound championship and the IBF bantamweight title. Rigondeaux won the WBA’s “world” bantamweight title by topping Panama’s Liborio Solis by split decision in a 12-rounder Saturday night at PPL Center.

Miami’s Rigondeaux (20-1, 13 KOs, 1 NC) made his bantamweight debut against Solis (30-6-1, 14 KOs, 1 NC), who had competed within that division numerous times prior to this fight Showtime televised. Rigondeaux approached Solis with extreme caution at times, but he knocked down the former WBA world super flyweight champion in the seventh round, hurt him again in the 10th round and won on two of the three scorecards (116-111, 115-112, 112-115).

The longtime 122-pound champion wasted little time mentioning Inoue’s name after becoming a two-division title-holder.

“Now I’m in my weight [class],” Rigondeaux said. “Before, I was fighting guys bigger than me. Now I’m in my weight [class]. Let’s go Monster-hunting.”

If Inoue gets past the Philippines’ Casimero (29-4, 20 KOs), who owns the WBO bantamweight title, Inoue-Rigondeaux would be an intriguing fight. Inoue clearly would be favored, however, because the three-division champion is in his physical prime and is a much harder puncher than Rigondeaux, a highly skilled southpaw.

In Inoue’s last fight, Nonito Donaire hurt him with a right hand in the ninth round. Inoue later caused Donaire to take a knee after landing a left to the body during the 11th round and won a 12-round unanimous decision November 7 in Saitama, Japan.

“That was a great fight,” Rigondeaux said. “That was really tough for Inoue because Nonito’s a great fighter.”

Inoue-Donaire was voted “Fight of the Year” for 2019 by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Rigondeaux previously defeated Donaire in a 122-pound title unification bout. Donaire dropped Rigondeaux in the 10th round, but Rigondeaux out-boxed Donaire and won a 12-round unanimous decision in April 2013 in New York.

Rigondeaux deemed Inoue “an excellent fighter, a great fighter, a warrior.”

The two-time Olympic gold medalist intimated, however, that his former promoter, Bob Arum, won’t match Inoue against him. Arum’s company, Top Rank Inc., now promotes Inoue.

“Mr. Arum knows what would happen when his fighters face me,” Rigondeaux said, referring to Donaire. “It’s on his side, because we do business here. We’re ready for anyone.”

Rigondeaux now is affiliated with adviser Al Haymon and Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions organization.

“I’m available and the office to contact me is Al Haymon’s office,” Rigondeaux said. “They know where to get me, and I’m ready for anyone.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.