By Dan Ambrose: 29-year-old two-time light heavyweight world champion Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KO’s) intends on knocking 46-year-old World Boxing Council (WBC) light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO’s) off his perch on October 15th at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California. Hopkins captured the WBC title recently with a win over pot shot article Jean Pascal in a 12 round decision last May.

Now Hopkins is facing what many boxing fans feel is the best fighter in the light heavyweight division and it’s going to be a big test for Hopkins to solve the Dawson riddle. Only fighter has thus far and that was Pascal under questionable means after their fight was halted in the 11th round from a head butt. The timing of the quick stoppage couldn’t have been more perfect, as Pascal was badly hurt from a flurry of shots from Dawson and it was doubtful that Pascal would have made it out of the round if not for the cut stoppage.

Dawson said this at the Monday press conference with Hopkins: “Bernard has had a great career, but his believe it or not text only run as boxing’s oldest champion is now over. I am the true light heavyweight champion of the world and on October 15, I will put the world back where it should be and reclaim by belt.”

I believe Dawson will make Hopkins look all of 46 and then some with his fast hands and amazing boxing skills. Hopkins is going to want to turn this fight into a hit and grab wrestling match, but Dawson isn’t going to go along with that. He’s a much better fighter in terms of technical skills than the guys that Hopkins has been feasting on lately in wins over Enrique Ornelas, Pascal, Kelly Pavlik and a completely shot Roy Jones Jr. If you really dig under the hood of Hopkins’ wins in the past three years, he hasn’t beaten anyone that is really anywhere near the same class as Dawson and he’s going to get put in his place on October 15th by the younger Dawson.