Bernard Hopkins wants Ryan Garcia to get a “respectable Tuneup” when he returns to the ring in April from his year suspension. The Golden Boy promoter Hopkins feels that Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) needs a “high-end tuneup” to get the rust out before he moves on to face one of the top fighters.
Hopkins isn’t saying which division he wants Ryan to fight in when he returns, but given how he came in overweight for his last fight against Devin Haney, he should consider fighting at a catchweight of 143.
With Ryan’s popularity, he can straddle both divisions permanently, and he’ll still be able to get all the important fights. No one is going to say no to a payday clash against him if he requires a catchweight.
“I want to see Ryan get a respectable tuneup. He needs a high-end tuneup,” said Bernard Hopkins to Fight Hub TV about Ryan Garcia’s return fight in April 2025. “Put him in with a respectable but still dangerous guy, and then move to the second fight against anybody in that weight division. He can show the world that you can get knocked down but get back up. This is a great time for him when April comes.”
If Ryan fights one of the light welterweight contenders for his tuneup, he can get someone decent. That division is far better than the 147-lb weight class, which has become one of the weakest in the sport since Terence Crawford and Errol Spence moved up.
“I believe Ryan Garcia is ready for the top two or top four guys in that division,” said Hopkins. “As a matter of fact, a division a notch down and a division he’s comfortable with. Ryan Garcia is ready for all of them. When Ryan is ready mentally and physically, he’s going to be better than last year.’
Hopkins doesn’t say which division he’s referring to, but he probably means the 140-lb weight class. Ryan can definitely compete against the top fighters at 140. You’d have to favor him over Jack Catterall, Liam Paro, and Richardson Hitchins. Those aren’t big-money fights, though. Ryan would be helping them out by fighting them, because none of those guys will ever become a star in the U.S.
“That’s one of the top ones out there after he gets a high-end tuneup where he can get tested and he’ll win,” said Hopkins about Teofimo Lopez being one of the options for Ryan. “That would be a good fight. I’d like to see the press conference. You could sell tickets to the press conference.”
Teofimo Lopez is expected to move up to 147 soon, but he would stay at 140 if that’s where Ryan wants to fight him. He wants to fight Ryan, Gervonta Davis, and Terence Crawford. Those are the three on his wishlist.
“Ryan Garcia, in that weight division, the money is the old days, and this is an event. This is an event that comes once or twice a year. I want to see Ryan back in. He’s waiting to get back in, chomping at the bit,” said Hopkins.
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