Written by Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. | Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. is standing by his son amid serious criminal allegations.
On July 2, the Department of Homeland Security announced that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. had been arrested by ICE agents in connection to “organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives” in his native Mexico. The arrest took place in California and Chavez Jr. is currently in the process of being expedited for removal from the United States.
In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Chavez Sr. vehemently denied the accusations against his son.
“It’s messy with all the gossip, you know?” Chavez Sr. said (Spanish to English translation via Fight Hub). “People saying different things, talk going around, but listen, we’re staying calm, thank God, because we know my son’s innocent, you get me? Sure, he knows folks mixed up in that stuff. Yes. We live in Culiacan, right? So it’s impossible not to know all those people that are involved in those illicit things.
“But that doesn’t indicate anything. I knew everyone back in my day, too, never got accused of anything. Truth is, we’re confident the law will sort this out. We’ll fight it because my boy might be a lot of things, but he’s no criminal. All these accusations? They’re way off base.”
Chavez Sr. is one of the most beloved boxers of all time and a Mexican icon. While Chavez Jr. has had success in his career, it has also been marked by controversies, including being suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission for evading drug tests and missing weight for a fight with Daniel Jacobs that was subsequently pushed back to a December 2019 date. Jacobs won their fight when Chavez Jr. quit in his corner at the end of Round 5, causing disappointed fans at Phoenix’s Talking Stick Resort Arena to pelt the ring with garbage.
Despite his bad boy reputation, Chavez Jr. has the full support of his father, who is confident the matter will sort itself out.
“The lawyers are working with in the U.S. to see if my son can stay there or we’re prepared if my son comes here,” Chavez Sr. said. “We’ve got lawyers and everything ready. And we’re going to fight, you know? We’ll fight under Mexican law if they transfer my son here to Mexico.”
Making matters more confusing for Chavez Sr. is that his son has resided and worked in the U.S. for several years. Chavez Jr.’s arrest came just days after he lost a boxing match to Jake Paul and Chavez Sr. has questions about the timing of ICE’s action.
“They had informed us about—but that was about three years ago, you know?” Chavez Sr. said. “There was never any requirement, never anything. Never, you understand? I mean, it’s strange that it’s happening now, right?”
“Why did they let my son fight? Understand? My son’s been in the U.S. for three years, paying taxes, and all. You get it? Now in Mexico, he’s accused of money laundering and what not. How is that possible? You see? When Julio’s been in Mexico, he’s been hospitalized, understand? We have proof? He knows those people, just like I do, that doesn’t make me a drug dealer, right? We respect everyone’s job, don’t we? We trust the law. We know he’s innocent until proven guilty.”