Julio César Chávez Jr., son of the legendary world champion boxer, got arrested in Los Angeles on July 2, 2023. The arrest came just days after his defeat to Jake Paul at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took Chávez Jr. into custody. At first, people thought it was about immigration issues. But on July 3, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the arrest and dropped a bombshell: Chávez Jr. was under investigation for ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The DHS didn't mince words in their statement:
"This alleged Sinaloa Cartel affiliate has an outstanding arrest warrant in Mexico for suspected involvement in organized crime and the trafficking of weapons, ammunition, and explosives."
Chávez Jr.'s legal troubles don't stop there. He's facing an expedited deportation process in the U.S. due to his irregular immigration status. Back in Mexico, he's got an arrest warrant waiting for him. The charges? Suspected involvement in organized crime and weapons trafficking.
The boxer's family connections raise eyebrows too. His wife, Frida Muñoz, used to be with Édgar Guzmán López - son of notorious Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán. Chávez Jr.'s stepdaughter, Frida Sofía Guzmán, is 'El Chapo's' direct granddaughter.
These family ties add a layer of complexity to the case. They've got people wondering about how deep Chávez Jr.'s alleged cartel connections might go.
This isn't Chávez Jr.'s first brush with the law either. In 2024, he faced charges for illegal weapons possession. Now, he might be looking at extradition to Mexico to face even more serious accusations.
The fallout from this arrest could be massive. It's shaping up to be one of the biggest scandals in recent Mexican sports history. The global reputation of Mexican boxing might take a hit. And for Chávez Jr. himself? His future hangs in the balance as he faces legal battles on both sides of the border.
