Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr., son of boxing legend Julio César Chávez, has been detained in a prison in the northern Mexican state of Sonora after being deported from the United States. The information was confirmed Tuesday by Mexico's National Arrest Registry.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced at her daily press conference that the 39-year-old former champion was wanted on an arrest warrant for arms trafficking and organized crime. She added that the Mexican prosecutor's office was continuing its investigation into the case.
According to US authorities, Chavez Jr. was detained by immigration officials in July, shortly after his high-profile defeat to American influencer and boxer Jake Paul in a sold-out fight in Anaheim, California.
Mexican prosecutors accuse him of collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel, considered one of the country's most powerful and violent criminal organizations. Washington designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.
The Mexican Attorney General's office has declined to comment on the case. But the arrest places Chávez Jr. at the center of a legal scandal that extends far beyond sports, involving his alleged ties to organized crime.
This dramatic fall stands in stark contrast to his father's legacy as a true icon of world boxing. Chávez Jr.'s legal case is now expected to enter a crucial phase, as Mexican authorities say they are determined to demonstrate their toughness against criminal networks linked to cartels.
