GLENDALE, Arizona – David Benavidez has landed yet another divisional rival who talks about meeting in the ring.

That has been a years-long problem for the 25-year-old Benavidez, who is eager to face the division’s top talents but who often finds himself settling for the best available fighter to actually sign the contract. It’s why he chooses to filter out any trash talk about him as nothing more than white noise, such as the bold claims recently made by secondary WBA super middleweight titleholder David Morrell (6-0, 5KOs).

In the past ten days, Morrell has alleged that he is being ducked by Benavidez, and that he would ruin the former two-time WBC super middleweight titlist “like when his brother Jose got wrecked by [WBO welterweight champion Terence] Crawford.” The claims made the media rounds, though also going in one ear and the other of the stated target.

“That’s how all these guys are. They talk a lot of sh!t online,” Benavidez told BoxingScene.com “When I see them in person or text them direct, they have nothing to say. He shook my hand and gave me a hug. He’s definitely not saying any of that to my face in person. If that fight was offered to me, I’d take that fight in a heartbeat.”

For now, the only fight that has the attention of Phoenix’s Benavidez (25-0, 22KOs) is his interim WBC super middleweight title fight with Montreal’s David Lemieux (43-4, 36KOs). The bout takes place this Saturday on Showtime from Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, near Benavidez’s childhood hometown.

It comes two weeks ahead of Morrell’s secondary WBA super middleweight title defense versus Arkansas’ Kalvin Henderson (15-1-1, 11KOs) in his Minneapolis hometown.

Wins by both could set up a potential meeting later this year, depending on the cooperation of the sanctioning bodies allowing two secondary titleholders to meet. The WBC and WBO were prepared to have the winners of Benavidez-Lemieux and the now canceled Demetrius Andrade-Zach Parker interim WBO title fight collide later this year to crown a “unified mandatory challenger” to undisputed champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (57-2-2, 39KOs).

Benavidez is all in for this weekend’s headliner near his hometown. After that, the bigger the opportunity the greater the chance that it will grab the attention of the unbeaten, rising star. Morrell isn’t necessarily on that wish list—though a signature could immediately change that.

“If [Morrell[ feels like he’s ready, he can talk to his managers and we can make this fight happen,” insists Benavidez, who was not at all interested in any back and forth with the Cuban export. “I don’t want any more small fights anymore. I want the big fights, the big names. I feel like I’ve earned it.

“I’ve been champion twice, fighting for a third belt Saturday. I’ve been wanting the other champions. They’re not willing to accept the challenges.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox