Who is Julio César Chávez Jr., the Mexican boxer facing deportation from the US?
Julio César Chávez Jr., who was arrested in Los Angeles by federal immigration agents on Thursday for overstaying his visa, grew up traveling with his younger brother, Omar, to watch their dad's fights.
The elder Chávez won world titles in three weight classes in the 1980s and '90s and became a sporting icon in Mexico, where he remains revered.
Chávez Jr. and Omar began learning the sport a young age. The younger Chávez, who's now 39, fought as an amateur at age 11 against Jorge 'Maromerito' Páez, the son of another Mexican fighter, Jorge Páez.
Chávez made his professional debut at age 17, beating Jonathan Hernandez in a six-round bout in his hometown of Culiacan.
'The Son of a Legend,' as he was called in Mexico, went 23-0 to start his career before a draw against Carlos Molina in 2005.
The world title
Although Omar also fought as a professional, 'Julito' was more talented, and he won his first title in 2009 — in the World Boxing Council Latino super featherweight division.
That year, Chávez tested positive for a banned substance after his fight with Troy Rowland in Las Vegas. He received a seven-month suspension in Nevada.
A year later, he won the vacant WBC silver middleweight crown, defeating John Duddy by unanimous decision.
On June 4, 2011, Chávez reached the pinnacle of his career when he won the WBC middleweight title, defeating Sebastian Zbik by majority decision at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
He successfully defended the crown three times: edging Peter Manfredo Jr. by technical knockout, winning by unanimous decision over Marco Rubio and defeating Andy Lee, also by TKO.
Against Rubio, Chávez struggled to make weight.
His first pay-per-view bout, and loss
Chávez's first pay-per-view bout came in 2012 at age 26 against Sergio 'Maravilla' Martinez of Argentina, who was 37 at the time.
Martinez, who had won world titles in two weight classes, defeated Chávez by unanimous decision and the Mexican's record fell to 46-1-1.
After the fight, Chávez was suspended for nine months and fined $900,000 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after he tested positive for marijuana.
The Canelo fight
After the loss to Martinez, Chávez struggled to regain his prior form and fought just five times in five years.
Chávez had another high-profile opportunity in 2017 when he fought Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas in his second pay-per-view fight.
The bout was highly anticipated in Mexico, pitting one of the country's most popular fighters in Alvarez against the 'Son of a Legend,' who lost by unanimous decision.
The downward spiral
After the loss to Alvarez, Chávez's struggles with addiction became evident and his relationship with his father deteriorated.
He stopped fighting for two years, returning to win a minor bout in Guadalajara.
In 2019, Chávez lost to former middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs in Las Vegas.
After that, he fought again in Mexico, including a loss to former mixed martial arts champion Anderson Silva by split decision in 2021.
Chávez spent the next three years away from the ring and drew attention for TikTok videos in which he accused his father of various forms of abuse.
In January of last year, Los Angeles police arrested Chávez and charged him with illegal possession of an assault weapon, among other offenses.
After that, Chávez claimed to have completed a rehabilitation program and was ready to get back in the ring. He defeated Uriah Hall in Tampa, Florida, last July before losing to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul last weekend in Anaheim, California.
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The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Former world champion Julio César Chávez Jr arrested by Ice over alleged cartel ties
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) has arrested the Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr in California and begun proceedings to deport him, citing cartel affiliations, multiple criminal convictions and an active arrest warrant in Mexico for weapons trafficking and organized crime. Chávez Jr, 39, the son of the legendary world champion Julio César Chávez Sr, was taken into custody by Ice agents on Tuesday in Studio City, a Los Angeles neighborhood known for celebrity residences. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he had been living in the US unlawfully and posed a significant threat to public safety. Nonetheless, just five days before his arrest, Chávez Jr was allowed to participate in a heavily promoted boxing match against the YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul in Anaheim. The fight promoter claimed that the match which Chávez Jr lost to Paul proved to be the highest-grossing boxing event ever held at Anaheim's Honda Center, with one outlet estimating it generated more than $1.5m in gate revenue. Chávez Jr first entered the US legally on a six-month tourist visa in August 2023. He later filed for permanent residency in April 2024, citing marriage to a US citizen. That application raised alarms within federal agencies due to what officials described as 'multiple fraudulent statements' and connections to the Sinaloa cartel, a powerful drug-trafficking organization labeled a foreign terrorist group by the Trump administration. His arrest comes amid mounting political tension over the Biden administration's immigration enforcement policies. Internal DHS documents reportedly showed that although Chávez was flagged as an 'egregious public safety threat' in December 2024, his removal was not prioritized. In January 2025, despite those warnings, Chávez was allowed re-entry into the country at the San Ysidro port of entry in California under a discretionary parole process. 'This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by Ice,' said the DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a sharply worded statement. 'It is shocking the previous administration flagged this criminal illegal alien as a public safety threat but chose to not prioritize his removal and let him leave and come back into our country.' Federal officials allege Chávez Jr has longstanding ties to organized crime. In Mexico, he is wanted on charges of weapons trafficking and manufacturing explosives without authorization. In the United States, he has a criminal record dating back more than a decade. He was convicted of DUI in California in 2012, and more recently, in January 2024, he was convicted of illegal possession of an assault weapon and manufacturing or importing a short-barreled rifle. The boxer has struggled with substance abuse and legal trouble throughout his career. Once seen as a rising star in Mexican boxing, who held the World Boxing Council's version of the middleweight title from 2011 through 2012, his in-ring performances in recent years have been overshadowed by repeated arrests, erratic behavior and suspensions. Chávez's wife – through whom he filed for a green card – has also drawn scrutiny. DHS officials say she was previously in a relationship with one of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán's sons, though she has not been charged with any crime. Chávez is currently in Ice custody and will be processed for expedited removal. A spokesperson for his legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The arrest highlights ongoing friction between immigration enforcement priorities and public safety concerns.
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
What to know about Julio César Chávez's arrest by U.S. immigration officials
U.S. immigration officials have arrested famous Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. — days after his high-profile fight with Jake Paul — for overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application, officials said Thursday. Chávez was detained in front of his home on Wednesday and will be deported to Mexico, where he faces organized crime charges, authorities said. Here's what to know about this arrest: Who is Chávez? The 39-year-old boxer is a former middleweight champion hails from Mexico. His father, Julio César Chávez, is one of the most beloved athletes in Mexican history and a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The son has battled drug addiction for much of his lengthy boxing career, failing drug tests, serving suspensions and egregiously missing weight while being widely criticized for his intermittent dedication to the sport. The younger Chavez still rose to the heights, winning the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defending it three times. Chávez shared the ring with generational greats Canelo Álvarez and Sergio Martinez, losing to both. In 2012, he was convicted of drunken driving in Los Angeles and sentenced to 13 days in jail. Then in January 2024, he was arrested on gun charges. Police said he possessed two AR-style ghost rifles. He was later freed on a $50,000 bond and on condition he went to a residential drug treatment facility. The case is still pending, with Chávez reporting his progress regularly. Chávez was away from the ring for three years before his return late last year, but Paul's invitation brought him back again. Where was he arrested? According to his attorney, Michael Goldstein, Chávez was picked up Wednesday by a large number of federal agents while he was riding a scooter in front of a home where he resides in the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood of Studio City, near Hollywood. Goldstein said officials blocked off the street and took Chávez into custody without informing his family. TV stations staked out his home Thursday afternoon and did not see anyone leave his home. Just days before, Chávez had faced off against influencer-turned-boxer Paul and lost in a highly anticipated fight in Anaheim, California. The Department of Homeland Security said officials had determined Chávez should be arrested June 27, a day before the fight. It was unclear why they waited to act for days after the high-profile event. What is he accused of? Federal officials said in a news release that Chávez overstayed a tourist visa that he entered the U.S. with in August 2023. The visa expired in February 2024, they said. Homeland Security said Chávez submitted multiple fraudulent statements when he applied for permanent residency on April 2, 2024, based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen, Frida Muñoz. She is the mother of a granddaughter of imprisoned Sinaloa cartel kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. U.S. officials said he is believed to be affiliated with the powerful Sinaloa Cartel that is blamed for a significant portion of Mexico's drug violence. Mexico's Attorney General's Office said that an arrest warrant against 'Julio 'C was issued in March 2023 in an investigation of organized crime and arms trafficking allegations, and that Mexico initiated extradition proceedings on Thursday. A federal agent who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed to The Associated Press that 'Julio C' is Chávez. What happens next? Goldstein, Chávez's attorney, said he did not know where Chávez was being detained as of Thursday morning. DHS said Thursday that he was being processed for 'expedited removal' from the country. Chávez's family issued a statement Thursday afternoon in support of him, the Los Angeles Times reported. 'We have full confidence in his innocence,' the statement said. 'We firmly believe that the proper course is to allow the competent authorities to carry out their work without external pressure or speculation.'
The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
Who is Julio César Chávez Jr., the Mexican boxer facing deportation from the US?
Julio César Chávez, considered the best Mexican boxer in history, fathered three children. His firstborn carried his name and came the closest to duplicating his success in the ring. Julio César Chávez Jr., who was arrested in Los Angeles by federal immigration agents on Thursday for overstaying his visa, grew up traveling with his younger brother, Omar, to watch their dad's fights. The elder Chávez won world titles in three weight classes in the 1980s and '90s and became a sporting icon in Mexico, where he remains revered. Chávez Jr. and Omar began learning the sport a young age. The younger Chávez, who's now 39, fought as an amateur at age 11 against Jorge 'Maromerito' Páez, the son of another Mexican fighter, Jorge Páez. Chávez made his professional debut at age 17, beating Jonathan Hernandez in a six-round bout in his hometown of Culiacan. 'The Son of a Legend,' as he was called in Mexico, went 23-0 to start his career before a draw against Carlos Molina in 2005. The world title Although Omar also fought as a professional, 'Julito' was more talented, and he won his first title in 2009 — in the World Boxing Council Latino super featherweight division. That year, Chávez tested positive for a banned substance after his fight with Troy Rowland in Las Vegas. He received a seven-month suspension in Nevada. A year later, he won the vacant WBC silver middleweight crown, defeating John Duddy by unanimous decision. On June 4, 2011, Chávez reached the pinnacle of his career when he won the WBC middleweight title, defeating Sebastian Zbik by majority decision at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. He successfully defended the crown three times: edging Peter Manfredo Jr. by technical knockout, winning by unanimous decision over Marco Rubio and defeating Andy Lee, also by TKO. Against Rubio, Chávez struggled to make weight. His first pay-per-view bout, and loss Chávez's first pay-per-view bout came in 2012 at age 26 against Sergio 'Maravilla' Martinez of Argentina, who was 37 at the time. Martinez, who had won world titles in two weight classes, defeated Chávez by unanimous decision and the Mexican's record fell to 46-1-1. After the fight, Chávez was suspended for nine months and fined $900,000 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after he tested positive for marijuana. The Canelo fight After the loss to Martinez, Chávez struggled to regain his prior form and fought just five times in five years. Chávez had another high-profile opportunity in 2017 when he fought Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas in his second pay-per-view fight. The bout was highly anticipated in Mexico, pitting one of the country's most popular fighters in Alvarez against the 'Son of a Legend,' who lost by unanimous decision. The downward spiral After the loss to Alvarez, Chávez's struggles with addiction became evident and his relationship with his father deteriorated. He stopped fighting for two years, returning to win a minor bout in Guadalajara. In 2019, Chávez lost to former middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs in Las Vegas. After that, he fought again in Mexico, including a loss to former mixed martial arts champion Anderson Silva by split decision in 2021. Chávez spent the next three years away from the ring and drew attention for TikTok videos in which he accused his father of various forms of abuse. In January of last year, Los Angeles police arrested Chávez and charged him with illegal possession of an assault weapon, among other offenses. After that, Chávez claimed to have completed a rehabilitation program and was ready to get back in the ring. He defeated Uriah Hall in Tampa, Florida, last July before losing to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul last weekend in Anaheim, California. ___
