Garcia fought Romero at the Fatal Fury event in New York with a hand injury. Romero clearly dominated the fight, with Garcia landing only 17.5 punches per round and 48 power punches in total. After the loss, Garcia admitted he should have canceled the fight and is now focusing on recovery.
Following the bout, Garcia underwent hand surgery performed by Dr. Stephen Shin, a surgeon known for treating top boxers like Canelo Alvarez and Vasyl Lomachenko. Garcia shared a photo of his newly operated hand on social media with the caption "I'll be back."
Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia's promoter, commented on the situation:
"He hasn't lost anything. He has to fix his injuries, but most importantly, he has to sort out his life. I lived it. Everybody is telling him things. He has to breathe, take a step back, analyze and reorganize his life. It's just my opinion. I hope he takes the year off."
Bill Haney responded sarcastically to De La Hoya's statement, commenting "Ostarine Break?" This jab refers to the ongoing controversy surrounding Garcia's positive test for Ostarine after his fight with Devin Haney in April 2024.
The April 2024 fight between Garcia and Haney was notable for Garcia knocking down the undefeated champion three times. However, the revelation of Garcia's positive test for Ostarine after the fight has cast a shadow over the result.
As Garcia focuses on his recovery, the controversy continues to simmer, with Bill Haney keeping the issue in the spotlight through his social media comments.