Bernard Hopkins wants Ryan Garcia to get a “respectable Tuneup” when he returns to the ring in April from his 12 months 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 among the highest fighters.
Hopkins isn’t saying which division he wants Ryan to fight in when he returns, but given how he got here in obese for his last fight against Devin Haney, he should consider fighting at a catchweight of 143.
With Ryan’s popularity, he can straddle each divisions permanently, and he’ll still have the option to get all of the essential fights. Nobody goes to say no to a payday clash against him if he requires a catchweight.
“I would like to see Ryan get a decent 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 decent but still dangerous guy, after which move to the second fight against anybody in that weight division. He can show the world that you could get knocked down but get back up. That is an excellent time for him when April comes.”
If Ryan fights one among the sunshine welterweight contenders for his tuneup, he can get someone decent. That division is much better than the 147-lb weight class, which has develop into one among the weakest in the game since Terence Crawford and Errol Spence moved up.
“I consider Ryan Garcia is prepared for the highest two or top 4 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 prepared for all of them. When Ryan is prepared mentally and physically, he’s going to be higher than last 12 months.’
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 highest fighters at 140. You’d need to favor him over Jack Catterall, Liam Paro, and Richardson Hitchins. Those aren’t big-money fights, though. Ryan can be helping them out by fighting them, because none of those guys will ever develop into a star within the U.S.
“That’s one among the highest ones on the market after he gets a high-end tuneup where he can get tested and he’ll win,” said Hopkins about Teofimo Lopez being one among the choices for Ryan. “That might be an excellent fight. I’d wish to see the press conference. You could possibly sell tickets to the press conference.”
Teofimo Lopez is predicted to maneuver as much as 147 soon, but he would stay at 140 if that’s where Ryan desires to fight him. He desires to fight Ryan, Gervonta Davis, and Terence Crawford. Those are the three on his wishlist.
“Ryan Garcia, in that weight division, the cash is the old days, and that is an event. That is an event that comes a couple of times a 12 months. I would like to see Ryan back in. He’s waiting to get back in, chomping on the bit,” said Hopkins.
