Bernard Hopkins wants Ryan Garcia to get a “decent tuneup” when he returns to the ring in April from his one-year suspension. Golden Boy promoter Hopkins feels Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) needs a “high-end tuneup” to shake off the rust before he moves on to face one of the top fights.
Hopkins hasn’t said what division he wants Ryan to fight in when he returns, but if he comes in overweight for his last fight with Devin Haney, he should consider fighting at 143 catchweight.
With Ryan’s popularity, he can get into both categories permanently, and still be able to get all the important fights. No one will say no to him at catchweight.
“I want to see Ryan get a decent song. He needs a great shot,” said Bernard Hopkins to Fight Hub TV about Ryan Garcia’s comeback fight in April 2025. “Put him in with a guy who’s decent but still dangerous, and then move on to a second fight against anybody in that weight class. . He can show the world that you can’t be knocked down but get up. This is a good time for him when April comes.”
If Ryan fights one of the light welterweight contenders with his music, he could get a respectable one. That division is much better than the 147-lb weight class, which has been one of the weakest in the sport since Terence Crawford and Errol Spence came up.
“I believe that Ryan Garcia is ready to be in the top two or top four players in that category,” said Hopkins. “In fact, the division is a notch down and the division is free from it. Ryan Garcia is good for them all. When Ryan is ready mentally and physically, he will be better than last year.’
Hopkins doesn’t say which division he’s referring to, but he likely means the 140-lb weight class. Ryan can compete with the top 140 players. You have to like him more than Jack Catterall, Liam Paro, and Richardson Hitchins. However, those are not big money fights. Ryan will be helping them by fighting them, because none of these guys will ever be a star in the US
“That’s one of the best after getting quality players where he can be tested and he’s going to win,” Hopkins said of Teofimo Lopez being one of Ryan’s options. “That would be a good fight. I would like to see a press conference. You can sell tickets at the press conference.”
Teofimo Lopez is expected to move up to 147 soon, but will stay at 140 if that’s where Ryan wants to fight him. He wants to fight Ryan, Gervonta Davis, and Terence Crawford. Those three are on his wish list.
“Ryan Garcia, in that weight class, the money is the old days, and this is the event. This is an event that comes once or twice a year. I want to see Ryan back. “He’s waiting for him to come back in, he’s snoring,” Hopkins said.
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