NEW YORK — David Morrell Jr. remained unfazed Wednesday when he realized his opponent still hadn’t made it to Manhattan for fight week.

Imam Khataev was in Toronto while Morrell moved around the ring during an open workout to promote “Ring IIII,” a DAZN Pay-Per-View show Saturday night at Louis Armstrong Stadium in nearby Queens. The Ring has learned Kataev’s visa to enter the United States has been approved and he is expected to arrive in Manhattan in time for the final press conference Thursday at Hard Rock New York in Times Square.

The Cuban-born, Miami-based Morrell (11-1, KOs) arrived several days ago to help promote his 10-round light heavyweight fight against Russia’s Kataev (10-0, 9 KOs). He has been confident all along that Khataev’s travel issue would be resolved in time for their fight.

“I don’t know,” Morrell told a group of reporters after he stepped down from the ring. “My team don’t tell me nothing for now. So, I’m ready. I’ve been ready for him. I’m ready for this fight, for him. Whenever he gets here, I don’t care. I’m ready.”

A smiling Morrell made light of the situation by suggesting Khataev’s late arrival is a psychological ploy by the 2021 Olympic bronze medalist.

“It’s OK,” Morrell said. “Maybe it’s the plan for him, for the mind or something. I don’t know what’s happening right now, but it’s OK.”

Morrell didn’t seem concerned, either, about reports that surfaced Wednesday regarding Khataev’s two-year suspension for failing a performance-enhancing drug test in April 2024.

The International Testing Agency confirmed that it suspended Khataev for two years because he tested positive for Clomifene, a banned substance, as part of an out-of-competition exam last year. The ITA conducts tests on behalf of the International Boxing Association.

Khataev, who resides and trains in Sydney, Australia, has boxed professionally four times since he failed that test — once apiece in Perth, Australia, Montreal, Grozny, Russia, and Sydney. That failed test is not expected to impact Khataev’s licensure with the New York State Athletic Commission, the regulatory agency responsible for “Ring III.”

Khataev, 30, and Morrell, 27, have adhered to full Voluntary Anti-Doping Association testing since they agreed to fight on this card. VADA’s involvement has made Morrell confident he’ll encounter a clean fighter on Saturday night.

“I wanna fight,” Morrell said. “I pray to God that everything is [approved]. I wanna fight him. I wanna fight Saturday night.”

Morrell is a 6-1 favorite to defeat Kataev, according to DraftKings, on a stacked card DAZN will distribute in the United States ($59.99; 5 p.m. ET) and the United Kingdom (£24.99; 10 p.m. BST).