Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. was arrested by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents days after his match against social media influencer Jake Paul, according to a Department of Homeland Security news release shared on Thursday (July 3).
Chávez, 39, a former WBC middleweight champion who lost to Paul in a unanimous decision on Saturday (January 29), is accused of entering the U.S. illegally and will be deported back to Mexico, where he's facing an active arrest warrant for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition and explosives. The boxer was detained for overstaying a tourist visa that expired in February 2024, having initially entered the U.S. in August 2023.
Chávez was previously flagged by ICE agents who deemed him to be "an egregious public safety threat," but was still allowed back into the U.S. on January 4, according to the agency. The boxer's attorney, Michael Goldstein, claimed he was detained by a large number of federal agents while riding a scooter in front of his Studio City home, though he was unaware of where Chávez was being detained as of Thursday morning, though was aware that they were due in court on Monday (July 7).
Chavez has a pro boxing record of 54-7-1, which includes Saturday's loss to Paul, as well as a unanimous decision against Uriah Hall on July 20, 2024.