By Dan Ambrose: The world will belong to Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KO’s) once he puts WBC light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (30-1, 17 KO’s) out of his misery on October 15th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

It’s great that Hopkins has finally accepted this fight because it’s like he’s handing over the baton to Dawson, the future of the light heavyweight division to move on and create big things. Hopkins didn’t have to do this, as he could have continued to knock off vulnerable easy targets like 42-year-old Roy Jones Jr., Enrique Ornelas, and Jean Pascal, a four round figher. With a win over Hopkins, Dawson can move onto fights against the top super middleweights Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler and Lucian Bute.

Dawson might also go after one of the other light heavyweight champions, although it’s hardly interesting given that none of them are even close to being popular. Tavoris Cloud, the IBF champion is a good pick. The promoter for the WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly is reportedly interested in matching Cleverly with Hopkins.

However, that’s a fight that Dawson might want to try and negotiate for an easy payday while waiting for the big money fights against super middleweights to open up. There’s also opportunities for Dawson to knock off some of the cruiserweight champions like Marco Huck and Steve Cunningham.

Those are the best options for Dawson at that weight class. And if Dawson wants another nice payday, he can always fight Hopkins one more time, although it’s going to be a lot less interesting in rematch because Hopkins will be 47 soon and that’s a bit long in the tooth to be fighting. Dawson doesn’t want to be seen as beating up on strictly older guys, because already beaten 40+ fighters Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver twice a piece in the past three years.