Famed Mexican Boxer Arrested in U.S.: Suspected Cartel Crime Involvement

Julio Cesar Chavez Junior Arrested in the United States
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: "Deportation Proceedings Underway"

Julio Cesar Chavez Junior, a 39-year-old former WBC middleweight champion from Mexico, has been arrested in the United States on suspicion of criminal activity in his home country.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on July 4 (local time), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested Julio Cesar Chavez Junior, a well-known boxer, criminal, and undocumented immigrant, and is proceeding with expedited deportation procedures. The Mexican Federal Prosecutor's Office also confirmed in a press release that "since March 2023, an arrest warrant has been issued in Mexico for 'Julio C' on charges of organized crime and arms trafficking," adding, "We have been notified by U.S. authorities of Chavez Junior's detention and plan to extradite him."

Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Junior is preparing for his match against opponent Jake Paul at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, USA, on the 28th of last month (local time). Photo by Reuters

U.S. authorities explained that Chavez Junior is suspected of being connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, which is considered one of the world's most notorious drug trafficking criminal organizations. Chavez Junior applied for permanent residency in April last year on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen; however, that spouse was reportedly linked to the late son of Joaquin Guzman (also known as 'El Chapo'), the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. Mexican daily newspapers El Universal and Reforma reported that Chavez Junior's wife is Frida Munoz, 37, and that her ex-husband, Edgar Guzman Lopez (1986?2008), was assassinated.

In December last year, U.S. immigration authorities notified ICE that Chavez Junior was considered "a serious threat to public safety." However, under the law enforcement system records of the previous Joe Biden administration, Chavez Junior was not listed as a priority target for immigration enforcement. Subsequently, Chavez Junior was conditionally admitted into the U.S. through the San Ysidro border checkpoint in January, but authorities discovered multiple false statements on his permanent residency application. As a result, in June, his status was changed to that of an undocumented immigrant. Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said, "It is shocking that the (Biden) previous administration classified this criminal as a public safety threat but did not prioritize his deportation, instead allowing him to leave and re-enter the country."

Chavez Junior is the son of Julio Cesar Chavez Senior, 62, a legendary Mexican boxer known as the "greatest champion of the 21st century." Chavez Junior made his professional debut in 2003 and remained in his father's shadow until he rose to prominence by winning the WBC middleweight title in 2011. However, he has also been the subject of controversy and criticism due to incidents such as testing positive for banned substances and failing to make weight. On the 28th of last month, Chavez Junior fought a 10-round match against Jake Paul, a 28-year-old American YouTuber and boxer with 20 million subscribers, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, ultimately losing by decision.