Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the former middleweight titlist and son of boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., was arrested for illegal possession of an assault rifle in Los Angeles, as reported by TMZ. The 37-year-old boxer’s arrest occurred over the weekend following concerns from a fan about his potential danger to himself and others.
According to the TMZ report, Chavez Jr. allowed the police to enter his home, where they discovered a “ghost gun” – a firearm that is typically untraceable and can be obtained without a background check. He was then taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department and sent to a jail in Van Nuys, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles.
This incident adds to the series of troubles faced by Chavez Jr., who has reportedly struggled with drug addiction in recent years. In a controversial social media post last week, he openly criticized his father, accusing him of abuse towards him and his mother. Chavez Jr. described his father as a bully and expressed his frustrations about being kept in a treatment center against his will.
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. has publicly expressed concern about his son’s health and erratic behavior. In November, TMZ reported that Chavez Jr. was admitted to a psychiatric ward in Los Angeles after consuming a large number of pills.
Chavez Jr., often viewed in boxing circles as benefiting from nepotism, carved out a significant career in boxing, challenging top fighters like Andy Lee and Sergio Martinez in 2012. However, his career has seen a decline in recent years. His last fight was in December 2021, a victory over David Zegarra, following a loss to UFC legend Anderson Silva in a crossover.
Image Credit: Sky Sports