Troubled Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. was spotted back in the ring less than 48 hours after regaining his freedom, surprising fans with a quick return to training in Hermosillo, Sonora.
The son of legendary champion Julio César Chávez was recorded by cameras at the Coliseo Boxing Club by Gallo Estrada, where he appeared focused on rebuilding his career.
Images shared on social media showed Chávez Jr. in a black T-shirt, long blue sweatpants, and sand-colored boxing boots. He appeared noticeably thinner compared to his fateful fight against Jake Paul, but his demeanor reflected determination and commitment to regaining physical form after nearly two months in prison. After a month and a half in ICE facilities in Texas, the Mexican boxer was deported and handed over to Mexican authorities. He was taken to the maximum security prison CEFERESO 11 in Sonora.
It wasn't until the weekend of August 24th and 25th that he was released from prison, although he still faces charges in Mexico for arms trafficking and organized crime due to his alleged links to the Sinaloa Cartel. According to reports, his mother and aunt greeted him upon his release from prison.
Now, his unexpected reappearance at a Sonora gym suggests he is eager to return to the sport that has defined his life, even as questions remain about his legal situation and future inside the boxing ring.
The Mexican athlete is now free to continue his trial, thanks to Judge Enrique Hernández Miranda's decision. His next court date is Monday, November 24.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Mexican Attorney General's Office into the Sinaloa Cartel, which began in 2019. In 2023, arrest warrants were issued against around 20 people, including the boxer and Ovidio "El Ratón" Guzmán, the son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
Chávez Junior, or El Junior, as he is also known, had been in the United States since then, where he had residency through his marriage to Frida Muñoz, a U.S. citizen. However, he was detained by ICE on charges that he lied during the immigration process, claiming he had no legal problems in Mexico.
