The Cuban-born boxer will face only his 13th professional fight on Saturday (01.02.25) and while victory is expected to lead him to take on the winner of the Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol rematch later in the month, he isn’t focusing on what could happen.

He told Boxing News magazine: “Right now, I don’t know what happens next.

“It’s a great idea for the winner of Beterbiev and Bivol to fight the winner of me and Benavidez. It would provide everything in one fight.

“But I’m not focused on the Betebiev-Bivol rematch or whatever.

“The only thing I think about now, my full focus, the only thing I dream about, is just about the work I need to do for February 1.

“People say, ‘What do you think about what happens next’… No, no, no.

“First, I am only thinking about this fight. It’s the only important thing.”

Morrell has been waiting “a very long time” to fight Benavidez.

He said: “I don’t think I cornered him. I just seized the opportunity when the moment came.

“I’m now going to seize that moment. I waited for a very long time for this fight, so it’s amazing.

“I know it’s the big moment for me.

“Right now is the moment for this fight. Before I’ve always said I want to fight him, ‘blah blah blah’ but two years ago it might now have been this big.”