Bernard Hopkins says he isn't looking past Enrique Ornelas, whom he battles in a non-title light-heavyweight fight in tonight's main event at the Liacouras Center. But that's just a figure of speech, to assure paying customers he's taking the rugged Ornelas (29-5, 19 KOs) seriously.

Of course, Hopkins is peering beyond tonight. It's what he does. There are plenty of boxing people - fighters, managers, promoters - who think only one move ahead, like mediocre chess players. It's why boxing is the only sport without a schedule. But Hopkins tends to plan three moves ahead, spinning scenarios in his mind, famously guiding his own career without a manager, which may qualify him as a pugilistic grandmaster.

Hopkins' current scheme, dependent on a win tonight, has him fighting a rematch with arch-rival Roy Jones Jr. in March. After that, Hopkins, a world middleweight champion from 1995 to 2005, wants to take on David Haye in November for the world heavyweight title. Yes, really.

"I have the height," said the 6-foot-1 Hopkins, who moved up from middleweight to win the light-heavyweight title from Antonio Tarver in 2006. "I can put on the weight, be smart about it. You all know I'm motivated by a challenge."

Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KOs) and Jones fought in May 1993 for the International Boxing Federation middleweight belt, which was vacated when James Toney grew out of the weight class. Hopkins was 22-1 and 28 years old, gaining a reputation as "The Executioner." Jones, the 1988 Olympic medalist, was 24 years old, 21-0, and fast as blazes. But Jones-Hopkins was a snore. Hopkins regretted being too cautious, and Jones, who won by decision, claimed he fought with a bruised right hand.

Both went on to Hall of Fame careers and have talked for half a generation about meeting again, with negotiations usually breaking down over money. How many times has the return bout almost happened?

"An educated guess - about 30," Hopkins said.

Now there's a deal and a date: March 13, 2010, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Hopkins will be 45 years old, Jones 41.

"It's still a super fight, no matter what the age is," Hopkins said. "Based on the history on both sides, the accomplishments, the soap opera of 17 years."

Moving up to heavyweight is another deal. Jones, Toney, and Bob Fitzsimmons (in 1897) are the only middleweight champs ever to gain heavyweight belts. To beef up from middleweight (160) to light heavy (175) in 2006, Hopkins enlisted New Orleans fitness guru Mackie Shilstone, and he says he would call Shilstone again to get even bigger. But Hopkins isn't targeting a giant like Wladimir Klitschko (6-6, 240 pounds) or Vitali Klitschko (6-7, 250). He's not that dumb, he said Monday.

"I don't have enough life insurance," he said.

Haye is 6-3 and has fought mostly at 200 pounds. He pulled off his own David-vs.-Goliath feat last month: Weighing 217, he took the World Boxing Association title from 7-foot, 317-pound Russian Nikolai Valuev.

"Haye is really a cruiserweight," Hopkins said. "Of course I won't be saying that during the promotion. I'll be saying he's the baddest heavyweight on the planet."