Najee Lopez is viewed as one of the best prospects in the world. It’s a flattering statement, but one that he doesn’t exactly agree with. He’s already graduated from prospect status to bona-fide contender.

Lopez’s 2025 has been exactly what he needed. On Jan. 24, Gilbert Castillo Rivera was his first victim, stopping him in the sixth round. A few months later, on May 10, Juan Gerardo Osuna was stopped in the second round.

His next fight isn’t set in stone just yet, but if Lopez (14-0, 11 KOs) had things his way, he would go from fighting journeymen to a top-tier contender. A few fighters fit that mold, but Lopez has one name in mind.

“David Morrell is a great fighter,” Lopez told The Ring recently. “I would love to share the ring with him one day soon.”

Morrell is in demand. The Ring’s No. 7 light heavyweight bounced back from the first defeat against David Benavidez to take down Imam Khataev at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing, New York, on July 12 at "Ring III."

Lopez isn’t a fan of Morrell, but he needed the Cuban to win to keep a possible matchup between them alive.

The 25-year-old knows there’s still some work left to take care of before a showdown with Morrell becomes realistic.

Ultimately, he’s hoping he won't have to wait too long.

Said Morrell: “That would be such a crazy, explosive fight. It has to happen.”