Garcia, who had tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine, looked off his game throughout the fight. Romero took control early, knocking Garcia down in the second round with a pair of sharp hooks. The judges scored the fight 115-112, 115-112, and 118-109 in Romero's favor.
The loss has put a damper on Garcia's future prospects in the sport. He had lost a title shot against Devin Haney due to his suspension, and now this defeat raises more questions about his career trajectory.
Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia's promoter, had an interesting night of his own. Before the fight, he went undercover in Times Square as "Fredrick," a quirky foreigner, to promote the undercard. The video showed De La Hoya in disguise, speaking with a heavy accent and mingling with fans.
"I'm Fredrick, and I'm here to tell you about the big fight tonight!" De La Hoya said in character, handing out flyers to passersby.
However, the night turned sour for Golden Boy Promotions as their fighters went 0-3 on the card. De La Hoya remained silent after the fights, leading some to joke he might use his "Fredrick" disguise to avoid recognition.
The undercard saw Devin Haney defeat Jose Ramirez by decision in what many described as a lackluster bout. One fan on social media compared the fight to a marathon, highlighting its lack of excitement.
Teofimo Lopez successfully defended his WBO junior welterweight title against Arnold Barboza Jr., winning by unanimous decision with scores of 116-112, 116-112, and 118-110.
The night's results have left Golden Boy Promotions in need of a fresh start. They'll need to focus on finding new talent to rebuild their stable of fighters.
As for Garcia, the loss has dashed hopes of a high-profile rematch with Haney and left many wondering about his future in boxing. The young fighter will need to regroup and prove he can still compete at the highest level.