I was thinking, after chad win or lose what's out there for Hopkins? If he wins well there'd be no point in doing it again and if he scrapes home he might not want to do it again. So who would be next? If he loses, he'll probably want the rematch but If chad looked elsewhere where would that leave hopkins? Retirement? I don't see him retiring on a loss.
It's either Bute or retirement I feel, if he beats Dawson. If he loses, it depends on the nature of his loss (one-sided, close, etc.)
It does depend though, part of Don King's standard contract is that he has future options on the other fighter. There's no way Hopkins would concede that.
If he beats Dawson, he'll probably go after Bute for a showdown in Canada. If he loses to Dawson, he'll find something. Unless he gets dominated or stopped, I can't see him calling it quits. I think he wants to fight past his 50th birthday.
As has been said, as long as Chad does not wreck him and just beats him, which he will. He will most likely go to England for Cleverly.