Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been provisionally released from prison in Hermosillo as he faces serious criminal charges for alleged arms trafficking and connections to a drug cartel. The Mexican boxer left detention on Sunday after a judge granted him bail despite the severity of accusations that normally merit preventive detention.
"I am happy, this is a process, my son has to clarify all the doubts that the government has. I want to make it clear that my son is not a criminal, he does not belong to a cartel, he does not traffic weapons, he does not sell drugs," – stated Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., the boxing legend and father of the accused.
Chavez Jr. was initially detained by ICE agents in Los Angeles on July 2, 2025, following his fight against Jake Paul in Anaheim. While officially arrested for visa issues, he was labeled a national security threat due to supposed links to the Sinaloa Cartel. Mexican authorities subsequently requested his deportation, which occurred on August 18 when he was transferred to the maximum security facility in Hermosillo.
Interestingly, the investigation against the boxer isn't new. The Attorney General's Office had issued an arrest warrant against him back in January 2023 for organized crime related to arms trafficking, based on an investigation that began in 2019.
During his second hearing on August 23, conducted virtually from Cefereso No. 11 to prevent potential security issues, Judge Enrique Hernandez Miranda surprised many by granting Chavez Jr. provisional release. According to defense lawyer Ruben Fernandez Benitez, this decision came from the judge's "progressive and very guarantor" approach after determining the boxer posed neither a social nor flight risk.
While awaiting trial, Chavez Jr. will stay with his family in Culiacan, Sinaloa. His lawyer mentioned that of the 21 pieces of evidence presented by prosecutors, only nine directly reference his client, with none proving active participation in organized crime.
The boxer must comply with strict conditions: he cannot leave Mexico without judicial approval, must attend all hearings, and must periodically report to authorities. His passport, however, remains in his possession.
The next crucial date in this legal saga comes on November 24, when a hearing before the district judge will determine Chavez Jr.'s legal status. Will the once-promising boxing career of the champion's son be permanently derailed by these serious allegations?
