Julio César Chávez Jr. Arrested in Mexico on Cartel Allegations

Julio César Chávez Jr., the former WBC middleweight world champion and son of Mexican boxing legend Julio César Chávez, has been arrested in Mexico amid serious allegations of cartel involvement. The arrest was confirmed Tuesday by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who addressed the matter in a press briefing.

“I understand he was deported. I don’t know if it was yesterday or this morning, but we were informed that he was arriving in Mexico,” Sheinbaum told reporters, via the Associated Press.

Deportation and Charges

Chávez Jr., 39, had been detained earlier this summer in the United States after allegedly lying on his green card application and overstaying a visa that expired in 2024. Following his deportation, Mexican authorities imprisoned him on allegations of arms and drug trafficking and accused him of ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.

Career and Legacy

Chávez Jr. won the WBC middleweight title in 2011, defeating Germany’s Sebastian Zbik. He held the belt until 2012, when he lost to Argentina’s Sergio Martinez in a highly publicized showdown. As the son of the legendary three-division world champion Julio César Chávez, Chávez Jr. carried both the weight of expectation and the scrutiny of being a second-generation star. The Culiacán native last fought on June 28 in Anaheim, California, where he faced American celebrity-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Chávez Jr. lost by unanimous decision in what was seen as an upset by some. Given his championship pedigree, though his career had long been marked by inconsistency. The allegations now facing Chávez Jr. represent the most serious legal troubles of his career. If proven, they not only jeopardize his future in boxing. But also cast a long shadow over his family’s storied name in the sport.