The former world champion sits in a cell at the Centro Federal de Readaptacion Social (Cefereso) 11 in Sonora. Mexican authorities have him on their radar for supposed links to drug trafficking and organized crime. They've even thrown in arms trafficking charges for good measure.
Chavez Jr's legal troubles kicked off last year when Mexico issued an arrest warrant for him. Things got worse on July 2, 2023. After losing a fight to Jake Paul in California, U.S. authorities nabbed him. They found him without proper documents to be in the States and accused him of ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Now, he's back on home soil, but not in the way he'd like. The boxer's under what they call "justified preventive detention" while the legal wheels turn.
Chavez Jr isn't taking this lying down, though. He's filed an injunction in Hermosillo, Sonora. His goal? To make sure he doesn't end up cut off from the outside world while locked up. Judge Ana Maria Nava Ortega gave him a thumbs up on that one, ordering that the boxer must have ways to communicate.
The folks running Cefereso 11 are pretty worried about Chavez Jr's safety. They've asked for his next hearing to be done by video call. They reckon there's a real risk of an attack if they move him to court, given how much organized crime activity goes down in Sonora.
This whole situation stems from charges the Attorney General's Office (FGR) slapped on Chavez Jr in 2023. They've accused him of being mixed up in organized crime and arms trafficking.
It's a far cry from the boxing ring where Chavez Jr made his name. Now, instead of facing opponents in the square circle, he's up against a legal system that's pulling no punches.