In a dramatic turn of events, US immigration officials recently detained renowned Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. with plans to deport him to Mexico. This move comes in light of an “active arrest warrant” awaiting him in his home country due to alleged ties to organized crime, according to US authorities.
Chavez Jr. was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last Thursday in Studio City, Los Angeles. His arrest came just days after he suffered a defeat at the hands of influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul during a match in California, leaving fans and spectators shocked by the unfolding situation.
US officials revealed that the former middleweight world champion is linked to the infamous Sinaloa drug cartel. A statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) referred to him as a “prominent Mexican boxer and criminal illegal alien,” indicating he was in the process of being rapidly removed from the country.
As details continue to emerge, the Mexican Attorney General’s Office claims that Chavez Jr. served as a “henchman” for the Sinaloa Cartel, reportedly acting under the orders of Nestor Ernesto Perez Salas, also known as “El Nini.” According to reports, Chavez Jr. was instructed to physically punish defiant cartel members who were tied up as a form of intimidation.
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office claims Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was ORDERED by El Nini, one of the Sinaloa Cartel’s BOSSES, to BEAT members who DISOBEYED him “like a punching bag.”😳😬
(via @MMAJunkie)
🎥 @MattSeedorff | Fox 11 LA
•#UFC #MMA #FightingProphets pic.twitter.com/awmF7J3IwR— Fighting Prophets (@FightingProph) July 6, 2025
Reports indicate that Mexican authorities intercepted communications between December 2021 and June 2022, implicating Chavez Jr. in violent acts orchestrated by “El Nini,” which involved punishing errant cartel members.
As the situation develops, there is currently no scheduled date for Chavez Jr.’s deportation to Mexico.
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. Defends His Son
In the wake of these serious allegations, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. has publicly expressed his support for his son. This comes on the heels of Chavez Jr.’s arrest relating to purported associations with the notorious Sinaloa Cartel.
The former champion is known to have connections within the cartel and was previously married to the widow of a son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Chavez Sr. addressed the media, saying, “Yes, it’s messy with all the gossip, people saying different things, lots going around.”
“We’re staying calm because we know my son’s innocent.”
He acknowledged that while his son may know individuals involved in illegal activities, it does not implicate him in wrongdoing. “We live in Culiacan, so it’s impossible not to know all those people who are involved in those illicit things. But that doesn’t indicate anything. I knew everyone back in my day, too, never got accused of anything,” he added.
“Truth is, we’re confident the law will sort this out. We’ll fight it because my boy might be a lot of things, but he’s no criminal. All these accusations? They’re way off base.”
For further updates, the boxing world continues to watch as details unfold regarding Chavez Jr.’s legal troubles and deportation.
