By Corey Erdman

While many questioned the decision to put the October 15 lineal light heavyweight championship bout between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson on HBO PPV, the undercard could turn into one of the best of the year.

Gary Shaw has confirmed that serious negotiations are underway to match former junior welterweight titlist Kendall Holt and Lucas Matthysse. 

Holt scored a vicious knockout over Julio Diaz on ESPN Friday Night Fights in May, which helped catapult him back into title contention after a disappointing loss to Kaizer Mabuza in February of 2010. Matthysse is no stranger to disappointing losses as well, dropping questionable decisions to both Devon Alexander and Zab Judah in the past 12 months.

“We’re hoping to make it a WBO eliminator,” said Shaw, who formerly handled the light welterweight champion of the organization, Timothy Bradley.

Also, with Shaw and Golden Boy co-promoting the event in Newark, NJ, an Antonio DeMarco-Jorge Linares has already been discussed by both parties, and the bout would most likely be for the vacant WBC lightweight title, which was recently vacated by Humberto Soto.

Corey Erdman is a member of the Yahoo boxing ratings committee, and a host at theScore on SIRIUS 158. Follow him on Twitter @corey_erdman