On his official Twitter account, light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins spoke today and repeated what he stated last Saturday: Chad Dawson is next.
@BadChadDawson @GaryShawBoxing lets me say this all them names is good. But i hv 2 honor my agreement with Chad first. Its me n him nextless than a minute ago via Twitter for Android 
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BERNARD HOPKINS EX
THEREALBHOP
Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO) regained the world light heavyweight championship on May 21 by defeating Jean Pascal on the road in Montreal. In the HBO co-feature on that card, Dawson (30-1, 17 KO) defeated Adrian Diaconu by decision.
It was Dawson who stepped aside at the WBC's request from a contractually obligated rematch with Pascal. Those two fought last August, with Pascal handing Dawson his first pro loss. After a controversial December fight between Pascal and Hopkins, the WBC wanted an immediate rematch, and Dawson allowed the fight with no fuss, with the guarantee that he would face the winner.
But Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer mentioned that he would look for a loophole out of a Hopkins vs Dawson fight after Bernard beat Pascal, feeling that the matchup wasn't the best Hopkins could get. Truth be told, it probably is, and that's even considering Dawson's lack of popularity or ability to draw.
The fight is being negotiated for this fall, says Dan Rafael. Expect Hopkins to confirm when he guests on Friday Night Fights this week.