La Prensa News Desk

 A famous Mexican boxer who was detained in Los Angeles by ICE agents last week has been under investigation by Mexican authorities since 2019 for allegedly working for the Sinalóa cartel.

Julio César Chávez, Jr., the son and namesake of one of the most famous Mexican boxers in history, was arrested in Los Angeles just five days after he was defeated in a highly publicized boxing match against social media personality Jake Paul in Anaheim.

Chávez had been in the US after his last visa had expired.

Last Friday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo revealed for the first time that Chávez had been under investigation by Mexico’s Attorney General's Office (FGR) since 2019 for working with the Sinalóa cartel, particularly in arms and drug trafficking. Sheinbaum stated that the Mexican government will ask the US government to extradite Chavez so he can face charges in Mexico.

Sheinbaum added that she had not known Chávez was under investigation and that Mexico had issued an arrest warrant for him until her government’s Attorney General prosecutor released new details of the case.

"No, I personally wasn't aware of it,” Sheinbaum said. “Yesterday, as soon as the news broke, we contacted the prosecutor, and the prosecutor told me,” she added.

The FGR released an indictment of Chávez last Friday detailing his work as an enforcer for the cartel based in his hometown of Culiacán, Sinalóa. The indictment stated that Chávez used his skills to beat captured rival gang members as they hung tied up from a ceiling like bunching bags he used to train.

Chávez was married to the widow of one of the sons of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, the notorious Sinalóa cartel leader who is now serving a life sentence in the US. Guzman was convicted by a New York City jury in February 2019 of 10 counts related to drug trafficking, using firearms in the furtherance of his drug crimes, and money laundering. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years and ordered to pay over $12 billion in forfeiture. 

El Chapo’s son, Edgar, was killed in 2008, and his widow, Frida Muñoz Román, who is a US citizen, moved to Los Angeles, where she later met Chávez. The couple raised her daughter from Guzmán and also later had two children of their own, including a son named Julio César Chávez III. The couple divorced last year.

Chávez was previously convicted of driving under the influence in Los Angeles and sentenced to 13 days in prison. Last year, he was arrested for possessing two AR-style ghost rifles, but was released on a $50,000 bond and the condition that he would undergo drug rehabilitation treatment. He did not serve any time in prison for the gun charges.

A statement released by Julio César Chávez, Sr. this week claims his son “is not a criminal”.

"I want to express my full respect and confidence in the authorities of Mexico and the United States. I am convinced that the facts will be clarified, because my son is not a criminal. That is the task of the lawyers, who are working on it,” the older Chávez stated. "I ask for respect for my privacy, that of my family and the legal process that is currently underway. When things are clarified, I will be in the best position to answer all questions as I have always done. Thank you for your understanding."

The older Chávez competed as a boxer from 1980 to 2005 and was a multiple-time world champion in three weight divisions. Chávez was ranked as the world's best boxer, pound for pound, from 1990 to 1993 by Ring magazine. His professional boxing record stands at 107-6-2.

Chávez Jr. is being processed for extradition to Mexico but no details have been released.