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Hermosillo, Mexico – Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. will stand trial on charges of alleged cartel ties and arms trafficking, a judge ruled Saturday. Chávez, son of Mexican boxing legend Julio César Chávez, appeared virtually from a detention facility for the hearing.
While he could face four to eight years in prison if convicted, the judge ruled that Chávez could await trial outside of detention. The court granted a three-month extension for further investigation.
Chávez’s lawyer, Rubén Fernando Benítez Alvarez, dismissed the allegations as “speculation” and “urban legends.”
The boxer’s arrest follows a years-long investigation stemming from a 2019 complaint filed by US authorities against the Sinaloa Cartel. This investigation has already led to the arrest and extradition of Ovidio Guzmán López, son of notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that Chávez has been wanted in Mexico since 2023 but had remained largely in the US, avoiding detainment. She expressed hope that he would serve any potential sentence in Mexico.
Chávez, 39, was deported from the US on August 19th after being arrested in Los Angeles for overstaying his visa and providing false information on a green card application. This arrest occurred shortly after his bout with American boxer Jake Paul. He was subsequently handed over to Mexican authorities and transferred to a detention center in Hermosillo.
This is not Chávez’s first brush with the law. He has publicly battled addiction and has faced previous arrests, including a 2012 DUI conviction in Los Angeles and a weapons possession charge last year. He was released on bail for the weapons charge on the condition he seek treatment for his addiction.