The attorney of Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr., who faces organized crime charges in Mexico, said his client has been released pending trial after prosecutors failed to justify why he should remain in custody.
Chávez Jr. was released from prison over the weekend. According to his attorney, Rubén Benítez Álvarez, Chávez Jr., the son of boxing legend Julio César Chávez, is accused of taking part in the illicit trafficking of firearms into Mexico on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel, though prosecutors allege he played no leadership, administrative or directive role.
Chávez Jr. was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on July 3, just hours after a boxing match with Jake Paul. He was held in a Texas detention center for six weeks before being deported to Mexico on Aug. 18. Upon arrival, he was transferred to CEFERESO 11, a federal prison in Hermosillo, Sonora, where he remained in custody for five days.
As reported by Infobae México, Benítez said that although authorities agreed to release Chávez Jr., they imposed strict conditions that his client intends to follow "to the tee." These include a ban on leaving the country, mandatory attendance at all court hearings, and a prohibition on contacting anyone involved in the investigation.
"My client is fully committed, more than anyone, to seeing this process through to the end, clearing up all speculation and conjecture, and proving without a doubt that he is not guilty," Benítez said.
The charges stem from a 2019 investigation by Mexico's Attorney General's Office that also targeted Ovidio "El Ratón" Guzmán López, son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, along with other alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel. In 2023, Mexican authorities issued arrest warrants for roughly 13 individuals, including Guzmán López and Chávez Jr.
Benítez told reporters that no substantial evidence has been submitted or examined by prosecutors so far, making it impossible for the defense or the court to evaluate or challenge the allegations. He also criticized the Federal Prosecutor's Office for relying on "anecdotes of camaraderie" to link his client to the cartel.
"The judge ultimately ruled that the investigation should continue for at least three more months," he added.
According to Benítez, one of the key pieces of evidence is a phone call in which the individuals involved have not been identified. The call reportedly connects Chávez Jr. to Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, former security chief for Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, leader of Los Chapitos, and commander of Los Ninis, an armed group loyal to El Chapo's sons.
"They talk about things, we don't know when, where, or even what exactly. And they reference information passed on by third parties, not anything they witnessed themselves," Benítez said. "I maintain that none of it happened, and my client told me the same. These are conjectures, speculations—they're practically urban legends."
If convicted, Chávez Jr. could face a prison sentence of four to eight years, Benítez said.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
