by David P. Greisman

Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions isn’t always secretive about potential next opponents for his fighters. After all, earlier on Oct. 26, he’d mentioned several names as possible future foes for Canelo Alvarez. Yet he wasn’t specific at all later that night when it came to who light heavyweight titleholder Bernard Hopkins could face following this past Saturday’s win over Karo Murat.

“Obviously we want a big fight, and there’s some big names out there,” Schaefer said at the post-fight press conference. “We’ll have to see who’s going to step up. Maybe some of those youngsters change their minds after tonight’s performance. You’re not necessarily making it easier for me, Bernard, with a performance like that.”

Later, Schaefer added: “There’s a lot of names out there. I have a plan. I’m not going to tell you guys now who, because that would be stupid negotiating on my part. I like to get big fights done, because the fans enjoy it and that’s what gets me going.”

One obstacle that could get in the way is HBO executives’ decision earlier this year not to work with Golden Boy Promotions anymore. At the moment, 175-pound lineal champion Adonis Stevenson and world titleholder Sergey Kovalev are being featured on HBO.

The other beltholder in the division is Beibut Shumenov, who recently signed with Golden Boy.

“I’d rather unify a title. I’d rather be the guy to have all the titles,” Hopkins said at the post-fight press conference. “But there’s a cold war going on, and that cold war going on is HBO doesn’t want to do business with my family, and my family is Golden Boy Promotions, and I ride and die with the people that ride and die with me.”

Pick up a copy of David’s new book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsamazon. Send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com