Julio César Chávez Jr. Deported to Mexico After Legal Troubles and Loss to Jake Paul
In a significant development for boxing fans and followers of combat sports, former champion Julio César Chávez Jr. has been deported to Mexico nearly two months after his defeat to YouTuber Jake Paul. The news comes as Chávez Jr. faces serious allegations of cartel connections in his home country.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the deportation, stating, "I understand he was deported. I don’t know if it was yesterday or this morning, but we were informed that he was arriving in Mexico."
The 39-year-old boxer was arrested in the United States on July 3 for overstaying his visa and providing false information on a green card application. This arrest followed closely after his comeback fight against Paul on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Chávez Jr. is reportedly wanted in Mexico due to outstanding warrants related to arms and drug trafficking, with ties to the infamous Sinaloa Cartel. According to Alejandro Gertz Manero, Mexico’s attorney general, the investigation into Chávez began in 2019.
Following Chávez Jr.’s arrest, President Sheinbaum expressed hope that he would be deported to face the charges against him in Mexico. The boxer’s father, a legendary figure in the sport during the 1980s and 1990s, has a history of mingling with individuals involved in drug trafficking and claimed to have known drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes. While he defended his son during the initial arrest, he has remained silent since the deportation.
Chávez Jr. has struggled with substance abuse throughout his boxing career, facing multiple drug tests failures, suspensions, and criticism for his lack of commitment to the sport. He held the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defended it three times, but faced tough competition from renowned fighters like Canelo Álvarez and Sergio Martinez, suffering defeats against both.
His legal troubles have been extensive. In 2012, Chávez was convicted of driving under the influence in Los Angeles, resulting in a 13-day jail sentence. He was later arrested in January 2024 on gun charges after authorities discovered he possessed two AR-style ghost rifles. He was released on a $50,000 bond with the condition of attending a residential drug treatment facility, and his case remains ongoing.
The Department of Homeland Security has identified Chávez Jr. as facing multiple charges in the U.S. His legal issues date back to 2012 when he was arrested for DUI and driving without a license. In January 2023, a District Judge issued an arrest warrant for organized crime related to weapons trafficking.
Additionally, DHS suspects Chávez has ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, which is classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. His application for residency was reportedly linked to his marriage to a U.S. citizen with prior connections to the cartel.
Despite being flagged as a significant public safety threat in December 2024, Chávez was allowed to reenter the U.S. early in 2025, but his legal status quickly became precarious again, culminating in his deportation.
For the latest updates on Julio César Chávez Jr. and other sports news, follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
About the Author: Jackson Thompson is a seasoned sports writer for Fox News Digital, with previous experience at ESPN and Business Insider. He has covered major sporting events such as the Super Bowl and NBA Finals and has interviewed iconic athletes across various sports.
