Promoter Bernard Hopkins wants to see Ryan Garcia and Shakur Stevenson fight at a catchweight in the first half of 2025. Hopkins likes the idea of Ryan (24-1, 20 KOs) and Shakur meeting at a catchweight between 135 and 143.
Garcia’s one-year suspension expires in April, and he will be looking for an opponent to fight on PPV when he returns. Devin Haney is no longer an option due to his lawsuit. Ryan will need someone the boxing world wants to see fight. Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) could be an option if they could agree on a suitable catchweight.
Shakur lacks the popularity of maneuvering Ryan to drop below 140 to meet him at a catchweight of 137.5 lbs. There is a tremendous imbalance in terms of popularity between the two fighters. Although Shakur is a world champion and has captured three world division titles, he is nowhere near as good as Ryan.
Realistically, the only way a fight between Ryan and Shakur could happen is if he is 143. Ryan is too big to drain down to 140, and if he agrees, there is a good chance he will come in overweight.
“The weight he left,” said Bernard Hopkins to the media when asked what weight Ryan Garcia will fight when he returns to the ring from his one-year suspension. “143, 147. It depends on the fighter and who they have.”
If Shakur is confident of beating Ryan, he agrees to fight him in 143 to 147, but the head of Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya would need to give the green light. De La Hoya might not be open to pitting Garcia against the Eddie Hearn-promoted Shakur because that would involve dealing with someone he seems to like. If Ryan loses to Shakur, Hearn would never let De La Hoya hear the end.
“Yes,” said Hopkins who is a catchweight. “I can tell you who I think he (Ryan) should fight when the time comes. You want to know? I think you’re all going to ask me, but it seems like we’re not getting there.
“Shakur. I would like to see him fight Shakur,” Hopkins said about wanting Ryan Garcia to fight Shakur Stevenson when he comes off his suspension in April 2025. “There are no advantages. Shakur has been sitting on a pond and fishing, right?
Hearn already has big plans for Shakur to fight his WBC #1 contender William Zepeda in February and then a unification match against WBA champion Gervonta Davis in the summer. Would Hearn be willing to change those plans to let Shakur fight Ryan?
“Shakur hasn’t been active, right? When Ryan is ready, he should be, and I’m not sure. I could be wrong,” Hopkins said. “This should be a healing time between now and then for Shakur, correct? As long as he stays healthy. Out of the gate, no advantages. Would you agree? No advantages in terms of being active for both fighters.
Shakur has fragile hands like birds, and he could suffer another injury that would further delay his return to the ring. He has been dealing with hand injuries since last year, and this could be a chronic problem. Ryan can’t afford to bet on Shakur being healthy in the first half of 2025 because he could have problems again. A better option for Ryan would be to challenge Mario Barrios for his WBO welterweight title next. Let Shakur fight Zepeda and meet his destiny.
“Meeting in the middle,” Hopkins said when he said it would be a big step for Shakur to come up from 135 to face Ryan Garcia between 143 and 147. “We’re in a different era now. Nobody’s talking about weight now. Talk about Bud Crawford who wants to fight Canelo Alvarez.
