Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been arrested by the US authorities for illegal entry and is to be deported. The former champion has a considerable criminal record.
The Mexican professional boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been arrested by the immigration police “ICE” in Los Angeles (USA). He is accused of entering the USA illegally. Chavez Jr. was last in the ring on June 28, when he lost unanimously on points to boxing internet star Jake Paul at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Arrest warrant for involvement in organized crime
The 39-year-old, son of Hall-of-Famer Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., is to be deported from the USA under expedited procedures. This was announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday. ICE justified the measure by stating that Chavez Jr. was the subject of an arrest warrant for involvement in organized crime and trafficking in firearms, ammunition and explosives.
Chavez is also suspected of belonging to the notorious Sinaloa cartel. This is classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States. Furthermore, he had made false statements in his application for permanent residency in the USA. On June 27, one day before Chavez’s fight in Anaheim, the authorities determined that he was in the country illegally, according to reports. The arrested professional boxer is said to pose a “blatant threat to public safety”.
Chavez Jr. (54-7-1, 34 knockouts) had delivered a rather lackluster performance against Paul on Saturday . It was only in the last two rounds of the ten-round cruiserweight fight that the former WBC middleweight world champion turned on the heat. However, he was no longer able to avoid defeat.
Numerous problems with the law
Chavez has his official residence in Culiacan, Mexico. His best days in the ring are long behind him, and in recent years he has had numerous problems with the law. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, these include:
* a conviction for drunk driving in Los Angeles in 2021, for which he was sentenced to 13 days in prison and 36 months probation.
* an arrest warrant issued against him in 2023 for involvement in organized crime “for the purpose of committing offences related to arms trafficking and manufacturing, in the form of involvement in the clandestine importation of arms, ammunition, cartridges and explosives into the country and the manufacture of arms, ammunition, cartridges and explosives without the appropriate authorization”.
– On January 7, 2024, Chavez Jr. was arrested in Los Angeles for illegal possession of a weapon.
Doping scandals, failed tests and bans
The Mexican-born fighter has also repeatedly caused scandals in the boxing ring. Chavez’s fight against the US American Troy Rowland in 2009 was scoreless. After the fight, Chavez was found to have used an illegal substance to gain weight. He won the fight itself unanimously and clearly on points. Three years later, he lost to world number one Sergio Martinez on points, but had the Argentinian down in the twelfth round. Chavez Jr. subsequently tested positive for cannabis and was banned for nine months. Another incident: Chavez was suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission for refusing to undergo a doping test in 2020. The ban ended in October 2022.
Boxing journalist Dan Rafael quotes Chavez’s lawyer Michael Goldstein on the boxing pro’s arrest. According to him, Chavez “was arrested by a large number of federal agents while riding a scooter outside his home in the ‘Studio City’ neighborhood. The current allegations are outrageous and just another headline to terrorize the public”.
Court hearing for possession of weapons
Goldstein added that he did not know on Thursday morning where Chavez was being held, but explained that they were due to appear in court on Monday for weapons possession (incident from 2024). They were also expected to discuss Chavez’s progress in a drug rehab program.
According to the authorities, Chavez entered the United States legally in August 2023 with a B2 tourist visa valid until February 2024. Since then, he has been living in the USA on the expired visa.
Involvement in the Sinaloa cartel
The Department of Homeland Security stated in its announcement that Chavez submitted an application for permanent residency on April 2, 2024, based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen (Frida Munoz). The woman is said to be connected to the Sinaloa cartel through a previous relationship with Edgar Guzman Lopez, the now deceased son of convicted and imprisoned cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
It is currently unclear what will happen to Chavez Jr. after his repatriation to Mexico. He faces arrest there and possibly further proceedings. However, the former champion’s boxing career appears to be on the brink of collapse.
Text: Frank Schwantes