Hopkins: Ryan Garcia needs “Respectable tuneup” in April

Bernard Hopkins wants Ryan Garcia to get a “respectful Tuneup” when he returns to the ring from his year suspension in April. Golden Boy promoter Hopkins feels Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) needs a “high-end tune-up” to get the rust out before he moves on to face one of the top fighters .

Hopkins isn’t saying what 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 permanently span both divisions, 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 wants a catchweight.

“I want to see Ryan get a respectable tune-up. He needs a high-end tune-up,” said Bernard Hopkins Fight Hub TV on Ryan Garcia’s comeback fight in April 2025. “Put him in with a respected 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. It’s a great time for him when April comes around.”

If Ryan fights one of the light welterweight contenders for his tune-up, he could get someone decent. That division is much 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,” Hopkins said. “In fact, a division a notch down and a division he’s comfortable with. Ryan Garcia is ready for all of them. When Ryan is mentally and physically ready, he’s going to 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 definitely compete against the top fighters at 140. You’d have to favor him over Jack Catterall, Liam Paro and Richardson Hitchins. These aren’t big money fights though. Ryan would help them by fighting them because none of those guys would ever become a star in the US

“It’s one of the tops out there after he gets a high-end tune-up where he can be tested and he’ll win,” Hopkins said of Teofimo Lopez as one of the options for Ryan. “It will be a good fight. I would like to see the press conference. You can sell tickets to the press conference.”

Teofimo Lopez is expected to move up to 147 soon, but he’ll stay at 140 if that’s where Ryan wants to fight him. He wants to fight Ryan, Gervonta Davis and Terence Crawford. These are the three on his wish list.

“Ryan Garcia, in that weight division, the money is the old days, and it’s an event. It’s an event that happens once or twice a year. I want to see Ryan back. He’s waiting to get back in, and he loves the bit,” says Hopkins.