Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr., son of legendary champion Julio César Chávez, is set to stand trial in Mexico over alleged cartel connections and arms trafficking. A judge in Hermosillo ruled that Chávez, 39, may await his trial outside of detention, his lawyer Rubén Fernando Benítez Alvarez confirmed on Saturday.
The court granted three months for further investigation into the charges, which Chávez’s lawyer dismissed as “speculation” and “urban legends.” If convicted, Chávez could face a prison sentence of four to eight years.
Chávez had been living in the United States in recent years but was arrested in Los Angeles in early July by federal agents for overstaying his visa and providing false information on a green card application. Just days earlier, he had fought American boxer Jake Paul.
Mexican prosecutors have been investigating Chávez since 2019 following a U.S. complaint against the Sinaloa Cartel involving organized crime, human trafficking, arms trafficking, and drug trafficking. That case implicated 13 suspects, including Ovidio Guzmán López, son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Guzmán López was captured in January 2023 and extradited to the U.S. eight months later. Chávez was among those named in the investigation, prompting the Federal Attorney General’s Office to issue an arrest warrant against him.
President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed Chávez was wanted in Mexico since 2023 but evaded detention by residing in the U.S. He was deported on August 19 and transferred into Mexican custody at the Federal Social Reintegration Center in Hermosillo.
The high-profile case comes amid increased U.S. pressure on Mexico to clamp down on organized crime. Authorities have also targeted high-profile figures, revoking visas of celebrities suspected of cartel ties.
Chávez’s legal troubles are longstanding. He has battled drug addiction and multiple arrests, including a 2012 DUI conviction in Los Angeles and a 2023 arrest for weapons possession, where he was found with two rifles. Though released on bail, he was ordered to attend treatment for his addiction.
As Chávez prepares to stand trial, his case underscores the intersection of celebrity, organized crime, and international law enforcement efforts against cartels.
