STUDIO CITY, Calif. — Julio César Chávez Jr., the son of Mexican boxing legend Julio César Chávez and a former WBC middleweight champion, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents this week in Studio City, Calif. and is being held in a Los Angeles jail pending deportation proceedings.
The arrest came just days after Chávez Jr., 39, appeared in the ring with social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Anaheim.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, Chávez Jr. was taken into custody in Studio City based on an active arrest warrant issued in Mexico, where he is accused of weapons trafficking and suspected ties to the Sinaloa cartel.
“Chávez is believed to be an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel and is wanted in Mexico for trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives,” DHS officials said in the statement.
ICE officers reportedly apprehended Chávez Jr. without incident. He had been living in the U.S. on an expired tourist visa and had recently applied for permanent residency through marriage. Federal officials allege his application included false statements and that he failed to disclose ties to criminal organizations.
Chávez Jr. is currently being held in a federal detention facility while immigration and criminal charges are reviewed. He is also facing a separate gun possession case in the U.S., with a court hearing scheduled for next week.
Chávez Jr. held the WBC middleweight title from 2011 to 2012 but has seen his career spiral amid issues with performance, drug violations and legal troubles. His recent loss to Jake Paul marked another chapter in his tumultuous post-title career.
His legal team has denied the allegations, calling them “unfounded” and suggesting they are politically motivated.
If deported, Chávez Jr. would be turned over to Mexican authorities to face the weapons trafficking charges. DHS officials said his arrest was part of a broader effort to crack down on individuals operating in the U.S. with ties to transnational criminal organizations.
Chávez Jr. is the son of one of Mexico’s most revered athletes, but his own path has been marred by controversy. His father, Julio César Chávez Sr., has not commented publicly on the arrest.