Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. Deported to Mexico to Face Cartel Ties and Alleged Arms Trafficking Charges

Boxing star Julio César Chávez Jr., wanted in Mexico for alleged cartel ties, has been deported following his arrest in the US for overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application.

The boxer was handed over to authorities and is currently incarcerated at a prison outside Hermosillo, Sonora. This information was confirmed by an anonymous source to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the matter during her daily press conference, stating, “I can confirm that he has been deported, though I’m not sure of the exact timing.”

Chávez, 39, faces a warrant for his arrest in Mexico on charges of arms and drug trafficking, as well as ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. Investigations into Chávez began in 2019, according to Alejandro Gertz Manero, Mexico’s attorney general.

Arrested July 3 following a high-profile fight with Jake Paul in California, Chávez had been hoped to be deported by Sheinbaum after his arrest.

Chávez is the son of legendary Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez, who was known for mixing social circles with drug dealers and claiming friendships with drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes. The elder Chávez has remained silent since his son’s deportation.

Plagued by drug addiction throughout his boxing career, Chávez has failed drug tests, served suspensions, and missed weight on multiple occasions, drawing widespread criticism for his inconsistent commitment to the sport.

Chavez won the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defended it three times. He faced off against generational greats Canelo Álvarez and Sergio Martinez, losing both fights.

In 2012, Chávez was convicted of drunken driving in Los Angeles and sentenced to 13 days in jail. In January 2024, he was arrested on gun charges, allegedly possessing two AR-style ghost rifles. He was later released on a $50,000 bond, with the condition that he attend a residential drug treatment facility. The case remains pending, with Chávez reporting his progress regularly.